SOLICITOR-GENERAL

BAE Systems: Fraud

David Howarth: To ask the Solicitor-General whether information obtained by the Serious Fraud Office during its investigations into BAE Systems about possible false declarations relating to  (a) Romania and  (b) South Africa been passed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office has no record of passing information during its investigations into BAE Systems about possible false declarations relating to  (a) Romania and  (b) South Africa to the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

WALES

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Peter Hain: My Department does not have any catering facilities, and therefore does not routinely procure food.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.

Peter Hain: It would not be possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were.

Peter Hain: The cost of any items bought in the last five years, carrying the Wales Office logo could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department was in the last three years; and what  (a) the cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Peter Hain: The five most expensive receptions hosted by the Wales Office were as follows:
	
		
			   Reception s  Cost (£) 
			 July 2008 Summer reception in London 3,284 
			 February 2008 St. David's Day reception in London 2,797 
			 July 2008 Summer reception in Cardiff 2,609 
			 December 2007 Christmas reception in London 2,594 
			 December 2007 Christmas reception in Cardiff 2,464

SCOTLAND

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not procure any meat or dairy products, with the exception of a very small quantity of milk.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: We do not hold the information in the format requested. However, there were a small number of complaints regarding teething difficulties experienced when the Scotland Office website was re-designed in 2008-09. These arose as a result of broken links to Scotland Office web pages and the problems were subsequently addressed.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: Figures are only available for each year as a total amount spent on web maintenance and include annual hosting fees. These costs represent the hosting, updating and development of the site.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£) 
			 2007-08 2,990 
			 2008-09 (1)19,292 
			 2009-10 3,500 
			 (1) The increase in 2008-09 includes a complete redesign and redevelopment of the website, hosting package for the site and full content management system for in-house staff to manage content.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what  (a) receptions and  (b) other functions have been held at (i) Melville Crescent and (ii) Dover House since 1 October 2008; what the date was of each; who attended each; and what the cost of the catering was for each.

Ann McKechin: The receptions and functions held in Dover House and Melville Crescent since October 2008 are listed in the following table. Where a reception was hosted by Scotland Office Ministers the cost to the Scotland Office of so doing is detailed in this table. Records are not routinely kept of those guests who attend a reception although such receptions usually attract a cross party representation of Scottish MPs, Peers, lobby correspondents and other stakeholders. Where a reception has been arranged by a third party attendees and the cost of catering are matters for the third party.
	
		
			  Dover House 
			£ 
			 1 October 2008 National Fraud Strategic Authority - 
			 8 October 2008 CBI Scotland - 
			 15 October 2008 Poppyscotland - 
			 21 October 2008 David Torrance book launch - 
			 23 October 2008 Royal Caledonian Schools Trust - 
			 12 November 2008 UKBA - 
			 18 November 2008 Commission on Scottish Devolution - 
			 26 November 2008 Secretary of State's lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 3,718 
			 27 November 2008 Scottish Development International - 
			 15 December 2008 Community Service Volunteers - 
			 16 December 2008 Scotch Whisky Association - 
			 20 January 2009 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns: launch of Royal Mail commemorative stamps and Royal Mint commemorative coins 152 
			 26 January 2009 Association of Scottish Colleges 1,938 
			 24 February 2009 Scottish North American Business Council - 
			 17 March 2009 CBI Scotland - 
			 23 March 2009 Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland - 
			 1 April 2009 Reception for media attending the G20 summit 5,065 
			 6 May 2009 MG ALBA - 
			 13 May 2009 Hamish McDonnell book launch - 
			 14 May 2009 University of Stirling Alumni - 
			 19 May 2009 Scottish Financial Enterprise - 
			 6 June 2009 King's Own Scottish Borderers Association - 
			 9 June 2009 Spouses in the Houses - 
			 10 June 2009 National Trust for Scotland - 
			 11 June 2009 Poppyscotland - 
			 13 June 2009 Secretary of State's reception for Trooping the Colour 6,311 
			 17 June 2009 Scottish Council for Development and Industry 2,030 
			 6 July 2009 John Smith Memorial Trust - 
			 15 September 2009 International Capital Conference China - 
			 14 October 2009 Poppyscotland - 
			 21 October 2009 Federation of Small Businesses Scotland - 
			 27 October 2009 CBI Scotland - 
			 3 November 2009 Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland - 
			 25 November 2009 Secretary of State's lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 4,123 
			 8 December 2009 Scotch Whisky Association - 
			 9 December 2009 Crown Estate - 
			 16 March 2010 CBI Scotland - 
		
	
	
		
			  Melville Crescent 
			£ 
			 18 December 2008 Annual reception for the Scottish media 207 
			 26 June 2009 Armed Forces Day and Veterans Scotland 2,312 
			 23 June 2009 Ministerial dinner 751 
			 18 August 2009 Secretary of State's reception for Edinburgh Festivals 2,426 
			 8 October 2009 Ministerial dinner 754 
			 27 November 2009 Women's National Commission 68 
			 3 December 2009 Annual reception for the Scottish media 858 
			 10 December 2009 Ministerial dinner 799 
			 28 January 2010 Ministerial dinner 754

Departmental Official Hospitality

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many receptions and functions he has hosted at locations other than Melville Crescent and Dover House since 1 October 2008; on what date each was held; what the location was of each function; who attended each; and what the cost of hire was of the facilities and the catering for each.

Ann McKechin: None.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10 to date.

Ann McKechin: The total reimbursable expenses paid to special advisers are as follows:
	
		
			   Amount reimbursed (£) 
			 2008-09 10,751 
			 2009-10 (April 2009 to February 2010) 7,564

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Conservation Areas: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 270W, on conservation areas: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written advice provided by English Heritage to local authorities on household wheeled refused containers in conservation areas.

Margaret Hodge: English Heritage has not provided standard advice to local authorities on household wheeled refuse containers in conservation areas. English Heritage's Streets for All manuals offer guidance on accommodating modern needs to reduce the impact of street clutter on conservation areas.
	The manuals are available to download from the English Heritage website at:
	http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8682

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no canteen facilities which use meat or fresh dairy products.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows:
	 2007 (0)
	 2008 (3)
	1. No print format on press releases 2. Use of lower case initial letters on DCMS website 3. Usability of contact us form 4. Request to remove consultation response 5. Broken RSS feed.
	 2009 (6)
	1. Broken RSS feed 2. Inaccessibility and usability of contact us form 3. Broken link to DCMS document 4. Request to remove consultation response 5. Usability of contact us form 6. Missing DCMS document 7. Request to remove consultation response 8. Badly redacted document. 9. Inaccessible document format. No facility to auto forward information by e-mail.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Over the last three years, the only spend on external website design consultants has been in the current financial year. The Department spent £13,000 on external website design consultants to update and enhance the homepage and improve user journey and digital functionality.

Museums and Galleries: Newcastle upon Tyne

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what  (a) capital and  (b) revenue assistance was provided by the Arts Council to Newcastle city council for the (i) purchase and (ii) redevelopment of derelict buildings in High Bridge, Newcastle for the Waygood Art Gallery in the last five years; and how much has been spent to date.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 March 2010
	Arts Council England has paid Newcastle city council £871,281 in capital funds to support the redevelopment of the Waygood Gallery. Revenue funding has gone directly to the gallery.

Sports: Training

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what means the national sporting governing bodies plan to undertake their consultation on the review of the UK Coaching Certificate; and what partner organisations in each sport each governing body plans to support.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Review is being led by Sportscoach UK, Sport England and SkillsActive. The review will be conducted in partnership with national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, the Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport. The NGBs will be consulted throughout this process and, following the completion of the review, the NGBs may choose to reassess the construction of their coaching awards should they feel it is necessary.
	This review incorporates the following elements:
	National Occupational Standards and Common Units
	UKCC endorsement criteria
	UKCC endorsement process
	UKCC support to sports
	UKCC Communication and Marketing
	UKCC Costings.

Sports: Training

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects Sportscoach UK to issue guidance on the preferred structure for sports awarding bodies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 30 March 2010
	The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Review is being led by Sportscoach UK, Sport England and SkillsActive. The national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport will be consulted throughout this process and following the completion of the review the NGBs may choose to reassess the construction of their coaching awards should they feel it is necessary.
	The findings from the UK Coaching Certificate Review are due to be announced during the UK Coaching Summit at the end of June this year.

Tourism: Finance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future level of funding for tourism.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 March 2010
	Beyond the current spending round, no decisions have been taken on the future funding levels for tourism.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Research

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated by his Department for agricultural research and development in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA funding of research on agriculture and food (including animal health and welfare) over the last three financial years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 63 
			 2007-08 68 
			 2006-07 75 
			  Source: DEFRA Science Information System. 
		
	
	Figures for 2009-10 will not be available till after the end of the financial year but the expenditure is expected to be in the region of £64 million. This includes DEFRA's contribution to the new Technology Strategy Board (TSB), DEFRA and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council innovation platform for sustainable agriculture and food (SAF), which will invest up to £90 million over five years in match-funding for industry for agricultural research. The TSB contribution represents £50 million of additional sponsorship for the agricultural sector.

Coastal Erosion

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation is payable to owners of land lost as a result of the Environment Agency's Managed Realignment programme.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Where the Environment Agency has carried out the managed realignment of existing raised defences any land owner who considers that they have been adversely affected can make a claim for compensation. The legal provisions for this are set out in section 177 and Schedule 21 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
	The value of damages and losses is assessed by professional valuers acting for the Environment Agency and it pays for the costs of a professional valuer to act on behalf of the landowner. All claims are assessed on their own merits and if agreement cannot be reached the matter can be referred to the Lands Tribunal. The level of compensation paid will vary depending upon the local circumstances and the damage suffered.
	If the Environment Agency secures agreement to buy the land then it is purchased at the market value.

Dairy Farming

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on proposals for large-scale dairy units.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has recently received correspondence on one particular proposal for a large-scale dairy unit.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Dan Norris: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not built nor incurred any expenditure on smoking shelters for staff in the last five years.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Dan Norris: The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies have spent the amounts shown as follows on rooms for staff leisure:
	Foss House: Kings Pool, York-£171,800 (gym and pool room): 2008-09
	Nobel House: London-£65,000 (gym): 2008-09.
	These are the only amounts spent in the last five years.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Dan Norris: DEFRA does not provide directly subsidised gym facilities for its staff. There are several such facilities on the core-DEFRA estate, but all these are managed by volunteer staff committees and paid for through membership subscriptions.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years.

Dan Norris: Identifying expenditure on interior design in relation to office refurbishment in each of the last five years incurred by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when undertaking office refurbishment could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information technology projects initiated by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were cancelled prior to completion in the last 12 months; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse.

Dan Norris: The Department has not cancelled any IT projects since April 2009.
	The Rural Payments Agency cancelled the Microsoft Project Server project at a cost to the public purse of £183,140.76, and postponed the Customer Communications Improvement programme at a cost of £60,843.48. The Food and Environment Research Agency cancelled an IT project to extend the Laboratory Information Management System for use in a Forensic DNA profile facility. FERA spent a total £70,000 of staff time configuring existing IT systems. No other departmental agency has cancelled any IT projects since April 2009.

Departmental Legislation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations have been  (a) introduced and  (b) revoked by his Department in each year since its establishment.

Dan Norris: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			   SIs introduced  SIs revoked 
			 2000 92 39 
			 2001 143 82 
			 2002 115 60 
			 2003 105 45 
			 2004 133 45 
			 2005 139 32 
			 2006 144 18 
			 2007 165 21 
			 2008 87 110 
			 2009 96 57 
			 2010 (1)36 (1)22 
			 (1) As at March 2010.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were.

Dan Norris: The Departmental Communications Directorate's spend on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo is detailed in the table.
	Detailed spend by DEFRA agencies is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Item description  Cost (£) 
			  2005  
			 T-Shirts 475 
			   
			  2006  
			 T-Shirts 475 
			 Toothbrush travel set 435 
			 Pens 3,550 
			 Travel wallets 13,025 
			   
			  2007  
			 Pens 1,600 
			 Travel wallets 6,650 
			  2008  
			 T-Shirts 500 
			 Pens 1,600 
			 Mugs 2,700 
			 Travel wallets 7,500 
			   
			  2009  
			 T-Shirts 497.50 
			 Pens 2,980 
			 Mugs 2,670 
			 Travel wallets 6,375

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department maintains of the reimbursable expenses paid to its special advisers.

Dan Norris: DEFRA records payment of reimbursable expenses made to special advisers in its financial system.

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department.

Dan Norris: Measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an essential feature of the Department's protective security controls. These controls reflect the standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF) issued by the Cabinet Office and available at:
	www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/spf.aspx
	It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific controls as this could undermine their effectiveness.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation "if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997" could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Norris: Where the total cost to the Department of obtaining an answer to a parliamentary question is over £800, this is considered to be a disproportionate cost.

Environment Protection: Coastal Areas

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department allocates funding to coastal local authorities for tackling the effects of coastal erosion;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on tackling coastal erosion in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The majority of the investment for all flood and coastal erosion risk management activity is now delivered through grants from DEFRA to the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency invests directly in coastal flood risk management and also gives grants to local authorities and internal drainage boards.
	The following table shows the grants that were allocated to coastal local authorities for coastal erosion risk management in the last five financial years. Levels of grant allocation for coastal erosion in part reflect the number and nature of schemes coming forward in any one year. For example, 2006-07 and 2007-08 were characterised by a number of large schemes such as that in Blackpool which was allocated £12 million and £17 million in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 52 
			 2006-07 65.7 
			 2007-08 49 
			 2008-09 32 
			 2009-10 30 
			  Source: DEFRA website and Environment Agency financial records. 
		
	
	Local authorities can also fund coastal erosion risk management using a number of sources, including central Government specific grants, council tax and formula grant from central Government. The following table gives final outturn estimates of local authority revenue expenditure and financing (i.e. formula grant) for coast protection for the last five financial years. Further details on this expenditure are not held centrally.
	
		
			  Local authority revenue outturn for coast protection, net current expenditure 
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 13.8 
			 2006-07 13.6 
			 2007-08 14.5 
			 2008-09 14.8 
			 2009-10 (1)14.3 
			 (1) Budget not outturn.  Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, revenue expenditure and financing statistics. 
		
	
	The Government have also directly allocated £11 million funding to 15 coastal local authorities through the coastal change pathfinder programme that was announced in December 2009. The pathfinders, working in partnership with their local communities, are exploring a range of new and innovative approaches to help communities adapt to the effects of coastal change (including coastal erosion).

Horses

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his latest estimate is of the number of horses in England; and how that estimate was calculated.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The latest estimate of the horse population is taken from the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) National Equestrian Survey 2005-06. This survey estimates the horse population of Great Britain to be 1.3 million. There are no estimates available for England only.

Horses: Travel

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses entered the UK with no requirement for a UK passport in the latest year for which figures are available; what his latest assessment is of the effectiveness of horse passports and the National Equine Database; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information is not collected on the number of horses entering the UK without a valid passport. Horse passports legislation requires any horse without a valid passport to have an application submitted to an EU-approved issuing body within 30 days of arrival in the UK.
	The National Equine Database contains details of all horse passports issued and amended in the UK. Information is uploaded on a monthly basis.

Incinerators

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on safety concerns regarding the inclusion of incinerator bottom ash in road building and other construction materials; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Norris: DEFRA has not received any direct representations on the use of incinerator bottom ash in road building and construction materials. However, a technical advisory group has been established, which is currently pooling evidence to demonstrate whether end-of-waste criteria can be met. The Environment Agency is working closely with industry to obtain additional data to help this process.
	More information is available on the Environment Agency's website at:
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/114416.aspx

Inland Waterways

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the assessment made by British Waterways of  (a) its waterways network infrastructure and  (b) the elements of its waterways network infrastructure not categorised as principal assets; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: British Waterways categorises the condition of its principal and most significant non-principal assets using a five-point condition grading system of A (very good) through to E (bad) in order to establish priorities for maintenance work. The latest information available as at 31 March 2009(1) is as follows:
	(1) Information provided by British Waterways.
	
		
			   Grade description  (Percentage)  
			   A :  Very good  B :  Good  C :  Fair  D :  Poor  E :  Bad  Assets assessed 
			  Principal assets 3.6 22.3 54.1 17.6 2.4 10,516 
			
			  Significant non-principal assets   
			 Towpath 19.1 26.7 35.2 15.3 3.7 2,718 km 
			 Bank protection 10.8 33.2 38.4 12.7 4.9 5,220 km (both sides of canal) 
			 Lock gates 13.8 21.9 40.9 15.8 7.6 3,362 
		
	
	British Waterways take a risk-based approach in using the funding available to maintain the network. They concentrate on those assets in the poorest condition and that have the highest consequence of failure e.g. in terms of safety or the impact on the wider network.

Inland Waterways

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department will provide funds to British Waterways to restore to good condition its assets assessed as  (a) already defective and  (b) at risk of becoming defective; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The level of grant funding for the waterways will be a decision for the next Spending Review and will need to balance long-term sustainability of the waterways with the overall fiscal position at the time. Government grant are, however, not the sole factor in determining what is spent on the waterways-efficiency savings, third party funding and commercial income are also very important.
	Spend on maintenance of the network is a priority for British Waterways who take a risk-based approach in using the funding available to maintain the network. They concentrate on those assets in the poorest condition and that have the highest consequence of failure e.g. in terms of safety or the impact on the wider network.

Marine Conservation Zones

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what use will be made of scientific evidence in identifying marine conservation zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
	(2)  whether the seven principles of ecological coherence will be adhered to in the designation of marine conservation zones;
	(3)  whether the minimum conservation objective for marine conservation zones will be that of favourable condition.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping) on 29 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 609-10W.

Marine Management Organisation

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff there will be in each coastal office of the Marine Management Organisation from 1 April 2010.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Marine Management Organisation is due to vest on 1 April 2010 and will manage coastal offices currently under the control of the Marine and Fisheries Agency. On 1 April 2010 there will be 102 staff employed in coastal offices. The following table details the number of staff in each of these coastal offices:
	
		
			  Staff in post at location 
			  Location  Number 
			 Amble 1 
			 Blackpool (coastal office, training centre) 12 
			 Brixham 10 
			 Grimsby 8 
			 Hartlepool 2 
			 Harwich 2 
			 Hastings 5 
			 Kings Lynn 2 
			 Lowestoft 7 
			 Newlyn 10 
			 North Shields 8 
			 Penryn 4 
			 Plymouth 9 
			 Poole 6 
			 Portsmouth 2 
			 Scarborough 7 
			 Shoreham 5 
			 Whitehaven 2

Nature Conservation: Crime

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been charged with offences related to wildlife crime since July 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Information on how many people were charged with offences related to wildlife crime since July 2009 is not held centrally.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes he plans to make to his Department's policy on nitrate vulnerable zones; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Nitrates Directive requires each member state to review its nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) designation and Nitrates Action programme every four years. Any changes as a result of the next review in England will be implemented from January 2013. DEFRA will be working closely with the farming industry, other interested parties and the European Commission over the next two years to consider what changes might be necessary.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative Party and  (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Dan Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Pets: Vaccination

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received on pet vaccination intervals.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Canine Health Concern (CHC) sent an open letter on pet vaccination intervals dated 10 February 2010 to the Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
	Following the open letter from CHC the VMD has received 39 additional letters from concerned members of the public either directly or via their MPs referring to it. The VMD has placed the CHC's open letter and its response on the VMD website
	www.vmd.gov.uk

Recycling: Greater London

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to page 47 of the Office for Government Commerce publication, The State of the Estate in 2009, if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation produced for staff on his Department's bin the bin initiative.

Dan Norris: A copy of the 'Bin the Bin' Business Case will be placed in the Library.

Rights of Way: Cycling

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the provisions of section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 on access to open countryside for equestrians and cyclists.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been no instances where dedication of land under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has had an effect on access to open countryside for equestrians and cyclists.

Waste Disposal: EU Action

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1003W, on waste disposal: EU action, if he will place in the Library a copy of each document for the two workshops held on 2 April and 14 September 2009 on the establishment of a Waste Implementation Agency that are held by his Department.

Dan Norris: I have placed the following documents produced by the European Commission in the Library:
	(a) The Study on the feasibility of the establishment of a Waste Implementation Agency-Overview;
	(b) The Waste Agency study-April workshop-summary;
	(c) The Summary of the study's interim report; and
	(d) The Waste Agency study-September workshop-summary.

Waste Disposal: EU Action

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1003W, on waste disposal: EU action, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the questionnaire on the feasibility of establishing a Waste Implementation Agency.

Dan Norris: I have placed the UK's response of 8 April 2009 to the European Commission's informal "Questionnaire for Member State Officials" on the feasibility of establishing a Waste Implementation Agency in the Library.

TRANSPORT

A5: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queen's Head; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the condition of the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: There are currently no plans to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queen's Head. The A5 Queen's Head to Wolfshead widening scheme was submitted in the Regional Funding Advice submission to the Government at the end of February 2009. The West Midlands Regional Assembly's decision was not to prioritise the scheme for funding in the period 2009-19.
	The A5 between Wolfshead roundabout and Shotatton is currently in good condition. The section of carriageway from Shotatton to Queen's Head is due to be surface dressed between June and July 2010 to improve the condition of the surface. A survey is currently programmed to identify the causes of a surface water drainage issue approximately 400 metres south of the Queen's Head Junction.

A5: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how many people have been injured on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border in each of the last 12 years;
	(2)  how many people have been killed on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border in each of the last 12 years.

Chris Mole: The following table shows the number of people killed or injured on the A5 between Telford and Shropshire/Wales border, in each of the last 12 years. These figures have been provided by the police and validated by the Department. It has not been possible to disaggregate the data to only report on Shrewsbury to Shropshire/Wales border casualties.
	
		
			  Number 
			   Fatal  Serious  Slight 
			 1997 5 28 108 
			 1998 1 22 94 
			 1999 6 23 82 
			 2000 2 23 102 
			 2001 2 18 104 
			 2002 6 14 86 
			 2003 2 14 74 
			 2004 2 13 107 
			 2005 1 11 73 
			 2006 3 10 84 
			 2007 0 3 107 
			 2008 1 6 85

A5: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how many times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed for road works in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed following a road traffic accident in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: The following table show the number of times the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border has been closed for roadworks and following a road traffic accident, for each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Total number of closures in both directions due to roadworks  Total number of closures due to road traffic accident (figures include closures in one or both carriageways) 
			 2005 1 5 
			 2006 4 6 
			 2007 3 10 
			 2008 1 6 
			 2009 0 4

Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions Ministers of his Department and its predecessors have visited the London borough of Bexley on official business since 1997.

Chris Mole: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Cycling: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of people using bicycles in Shropshire.

Sadiq Khan: Shropshire benefits from four main streams of departmental funding to encourage cycling in England.
	 Local Transport Plan funding
	Shropshire received £4,011,000 integrated transport funding for 2009-10. Funding for other years is available on the Department for Transport website under "Funding for local transport". Local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. The Department does not keep records of local funding decisions.
	 Cycle City and Town funding
	Shrewsbury was chosen as a cycle town in June 2008 and is funded until 2010-11. Departmental funding is used to encourage cycling in the town. The funding is match funded by Shropshire council.
	
		
			   Shrewsbury (£) 
			 2008-09 600,000 
			 2009-10 800,000 
			 2010-11 665,000 
			 Total 2,065,000 
		
	
	 Links to schools
	The Department funds links to schools to encourage cycling and walking to schools, as a contribution to the total cost, with the rest of the funding coming from the local authority.
	
		
			   Location  DfT fund (£)  Total cost (£) 
			 2004-05 Shrewsbury 28,000.00 201,571.00 
			 2004-05 Whitchurch 1,589.00 3,177.92 
			 2004-05 Albrighton 27,000.00 61,533.08 
			 2004-05 Market Drayton 1,756.00 3,512.00 
			 2004-05 Oswestry 35,000.00 70,504.00 
			 2006-07 Shrewsbury 38,000.00 344,000.00 
			 2006-07 Shifnal 5,000.00 35,607.00 
			 2006-07 Shawbury 10,000.00 76,420.00 
			 2009-10 Oswestry 46,531.56 159,870.90 
			 2009-10 Wem 10,000.00 20,000.00 
		
	
	 Cycle training grants
	Local authorities apply for grants to train school children in Bikeability level 2. Bikeability level 2 is an approved cycle training course normally undertaken by children in years five to six (ages 10-11).
	Shropshire received the following:
	
		
			   Shropshire (£) 
			 2008-09 20,000.00 
			 2009-10 31,996.00

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Government's value for money policies and principles, utilising collaborative arrangements where these are available and in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework.
	The Department and its agencies generally provide staff catering and vending services via estates private finance initiative or facilities management contracts. These provisions are typically provided on a commercial basis and are not directly subsidised, and they operate in a very competitive environment.
	For example, the Department's headquarter facilities management contract requires the contractor to comply with Government guidance on sustainable food and farming in the delivery of the contract. The contract also requires the contractor to take into account the Government's commitment to the public sector food procurement initiative, and directs them to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs websites. Thus the contractor is encouraged to consider higher level schemes for food standards and animal welfare.
	Another example is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's estates private finance initiative contract, which requires the service provider to comply with the sustainable food procurement initiative and other Government guidance on food and farming in delivery of the service.
	As and when each of the Department's catering contracts needs to be renewed, consideration will be given to emerging higher level welfare standards when specifying replacement contracts.

Hang Gliding and Paragliding: EU Action

Jacqui Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the sports of hang gliding and paragliding of proposals in the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation consultation on the draft Standardised European Rules of the Air; and if he will meet the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association to discuss the proposals.

Paul Clark: Eurocontrol is preparing the draft implementing rule on Standardised European Rules of the Air on behalf of the European Commission under the umbrella of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.
	The preliminary view of the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is that the proposals will not impact adversely on hang gliding and paragliding activities as the CAA, as the Competent Authority for the purposes of the legislation, will retain the discretion to permit visual flight rule flights. However, the UK will continue to seek clarity from Eurocontrol on the intent of the element of the regulation which concerns the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA).
	The Department has set up a UK European Air Traffic Management Stakeholders Forum, as a requirement of the SES legislation, at which policy officials directly concerned in this work update aviation stakeholders across the board on SES proposals and elicit views. The BHPA is on the invitee list for the Forum which will next be convened in late spring. In the meantime, Eurocontrol's consultation is still open till 12 April for the BHPA to express its concerns directly to the Agency.

Humber Bridge

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects all lanes of the Humber Bridge to be open to traffic.

Sadiq Khan: The lane restrictions are a matter for the Humber Bridge Board. My understanding is these are currently in place at the Humber Bridge and are essential for traffic management for the dehumidification work on the bridge, and that they will need to be implemented on a regular basis over the next two years.
	The works have been carefully planned to avoid contraflow on the bridge other than when absolutely essential and generally only on weekends.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will consider requiring the Humber Bridge Board to reduce the level of toll on the Humber Bridge during periods when lane closure is in force.

Sadiq Khan: There are currently lane restrictions in place at the Humber Bridge to allow dehumidification work to take place. The Board is monitoring closely the impact of the lane closures on congestion on the bridge. Toll levels are a matter for the Bridge Board. The tolls are levied for the crossing of the estuary and that service is being maintained.

Lorries: Testing

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many tests of heavy goods vehicles the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency conducted outside core business hours between April 2009 and February 2010.

Paul Clark: The total number of heavy goods vehicles tested (both motor vehicles and trailers) outside normal working hours between April 2009 and February 2010 was 9,963. This consists of first and annual tests and retests.

Lorries: Testing

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) evaluated on levels of demand for conducting annual tests of heavy goods vehicles outside standard working hours.

Paul Clark: Customer input into the requirements for, and likely uptake of, extended opening hours for annual tests of heavy goods vehicles has been provided from direct customer feedback and through quantitative customer research with 500 service agents in 2009-10 and a similar survey in 2008.

Public Transport: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the average daily number of people using  (a) buses and  (b) trains in Shropshire in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: For bus usage, data for Shropshire are available from the local government National Indicator Set. The following table shows the figures for Shropshire for the relevant National Indicator (number 177-local bus and light rail passenger journeys originating in the authority area).
	
		
			  Local bus journeys originating in Shropshire, 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			  Thousand 
			   Total journeys( 1)  during year  Average journeys( 1)  per day( 2) 
			 2004-05 6,458 17.7 
			 2005-06 6,359 17.4 
			 2006-07 6,678 18.3 
			 2007-08 6,723 18.4 
			 2008-09 6,793 18.6 
			 (1) The national indicator definition includes bus and light rail journeys in these totals, although there are presently no light rail systems in Shropshire. (2) Average journeys per day for all days in the year, including weekends, school holidays and public holidays. The working day average is likely to be higher than shown here.  Source: National Indicator Set 
		
	
	These data are not necessarily consistent with the Department for Transport's published official statistics on bus patronage, and they have not gone through the same reconciliation and consistency checks. Department for Transport bus patronage statistics cannot be released at local authority level, owing to the assurances of commercial confidentiality given to local bus operators.
	The Department for Transport does not hold any corresponding data on passenger rail journeys.

Railways: Construction

David Lidington: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of business premises in  (a) the parish of Coldharbour,  (b) the parish of Aylesbury,  (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville,  (d) the parish of Ellesborough,  (e) the parish of Wendover,  (f) the parish of Great Missenden and  (g) the county of Buckinghamshire which lie within (i) 100, (ii) 200, (iii) 300, (iv) 400 and (v) 500 metres of his Department's preferred route for High Speed Two; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of dwellings in  (a) the parish of Coldharbour,  (b) the parish of Aylesbury,  (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville,  (d) the parish of Ellesborough,  (e) the parish of Wendover,  (f) the parish of Great Missenden and  (g) the county of Buckinghamshire which lie within (i) 100, (ii) 200, (iii) 300, (iv) 400 and (v) 500 metres of his Department's preferred route for High Speed Two; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: holding answer 18 March 2010
	The effects of the recommended route on properties will be made available as part of the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS), on which work is continuing. The AoS will be published later in the year in order to inform the formal public consultation which we expect to launch in the autumn. The Government will write to the owners of relevant properties at this time. Additional design work will be required to refine HS2 Ltd's proposals, and this would be likely to reduce the number of properties affected.

Railways: Construction

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will send a copy of the consultation document on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for the London-Birmingham high speed rail link to  (a) each franchise that his Department considers may qualify for the scheme and  (b) each parish council in which one or more such household is located.

Chris Mole: holding answer 30 March 2010
	Copies of the consultation document on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme have been sent to the parties listed at Annex B in the consultation document. The National Association of Local Councils, which represents the 8,500 town and parish councils in England, was sent copies of the consultation materials. Any interested party can respond to the consultation.
	Copies of the consultation document are available on the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-18/
	and can be ordered free of charge from DfT Publications (0300 123 1102) or
	www.dft.gov.uk/foi/dftps/howtoobtaindftpublications/form

Railways: Construction

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  if he will publish the reports of all passenger demand modelling  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned by his Department on the proposed HS2 routes;
	(2)  if he will publish the results of the investigations which have been made into the effect of modal switch in the context of passenger demand modelling for HS2; what methodology was used in the investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: All work commissioned and undertaken on demand modelling and on modal switch for HS2 Ltd.'s report was published alongside the Government's Command Paper on 11 March. In particular, I refer the hon. Member to HS2 Ltd.'s "Demand and Appraisal Report", published on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/demandandappraisal/

Railways: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with rail operators on rail services between London and stations in Shropshire.

Chris Mole: There have been recent discussions at official level with Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway and Chiltern Railways regarding services between London and stations in Shropshire. These discussions are ongoing.

Roads: Accidents

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many fatal road accidents there have been in North Shropshire constituency in each month of each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: The information requested in shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Reported fatal personal injury road accidents in North Shropshire constituency( 1) , by month: 1997  to  2008 
			  Fatal accidents 
			  Year/month  Jan  Feb  March  April  May  June  July  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Total 
			 1997 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 5 
			 1998 1 1 1 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 9 
			 1999 3 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 10 
			 2000 0 0 3 3 2 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 15 
			 2001 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 3 1 2 12 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 2 10 
			 2003 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 7 
			 2004 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 5 
			 2005 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 12 
			 2006 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 
			 2007 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 2008 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 6 
			 (1) Based on 2004 parliamentary constituency boundaries.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on  (a) road building and  (b) road maintenance in the latest year for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: In 2008-09 the Department for Transport allocated £246 million to local authorities for local major road schemes. The Highways Agency (an agency of this Department) spent £725 million on road building.
	In 2008-09 the Highways Agency spent £914 million on maintenance of the strategic road network. The Department does not directly maintain local authority roads. However, it provides capital maintenance funding to local authorities (outside London) as part of the Local Transport Plan settlement; and funding as part of the private finance initiative. Information about the amounts allocated can be found at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/fundingstreams/capital/

Sea Rescue: Flamborough Head

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the works required to make Flamborough Head coastguard station compliant with safety regulations.

Paul Clark: Following a recent inspection by the local fire and rescue service, the estimated cost to improve safety in the Flamborough Head property is £4,200. The cost to install an external fire escape to the three- storey property is in the region of £20,000.

Thameslink Railway Line

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of the provision of more than one additional train maintenance depot for Thameslink stations. [R]

Chris Mole: The Thameslink Programme will enable the operation of a high-frequency service through central London to destinations both north and south of London. In recognition of this, the train maintenance strategy is based on there being two new depots, one north of London and the other south of London. A two-depot strategy will provide the most efficient means of servicing the new Thameslink fleet.

Thameslink Railway Line

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the introduction of the new Thameslink trains of the time taken to construct the additional train maintenance depots. [R]

Chris Mole: The current programme for the introduction of the new fleet of trains shows the first trains entering passenger service in early 2014. Our plans assume that at least one of the two new depots proposed for this new fleet of trains will be operational before this date. There will therefore be sufficient depot servicing facilities in time for the introduction of these first trains by this date.
	There will be a point in the production cycle for the new fleet of trains when the second new depot will be required. Our plans assume that the second depot will be operational before this production cycle milestone is realised.

Thameslink Railway Line

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether  (a) a local authority and  (b) other organisations have powers to block the development of additional train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. [R]

Chris Mole: Network Rail has commenced the process for progressing planning consents for the two new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock with the relevant local authorities.
	It would be inappropriate to comment on the outcome of these discussions at this stage.

Transport: Sustainable Development

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many representations he has received in response to the draft guidance to regions on his Department's Delivering a Sustainable Transport System programme.

Sadiq Khan: A number of responses to the consultation on Delivering a Sustainable Transport System in spring 2009 referred to the draft guidance to regions, including two specifically relating to the guidance. The Department for Transport published a response to the consultation on 28 April 2009 at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2009/planning/consultresponses/
	The final guidance issued to the regions last July may be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/strategy/dasts/guidance/

Transport: Sustainable Development

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of progress in his Department's Delivering a Sustainable Transport System programme; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Details of the regional study programme for Delivering a Sustainable Transport System are on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/strategy/dasts/
	and details on the national studies are at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/nationalnetworksstudy?view=Standard
	The Department is monitoring progress closely through representation on all study steering groups. It is anticipated that a full interim assessment of the work to date will be reported to Ministers in the summer of 2010.

Transport: Sustainable Development

Owen Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) Shropshire council and  (b) Advantage West Midlands on his Department's review, "Delivering a Sustainable Transport System".

Sadiq Khan: I meet the chair of Advantage West Midlands (AWM) from time to time to discuss "Delivering a Sustainable Transport System" and other matters.
	Officials from my Department and from Government offices also meet regularly with representatives of both AWM and Shropshire council.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure that Birmingham obtains a legacy from the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) have established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy for London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to maximise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 games. Some examples of how Birmingham and the West Midlands region are benefiting from the games are given as follows.
	Both the American and Jamaican track and field teams will be based in Birmingham in the run-up to the games.
	West Midlands businesses are already benefiting from the games. To date, 213 businesses in the region have won contracts through CompeteFor. To date 53 businesses have won direct contracts with the Olympic Delivery Authority. This includes a contract for the construction of the Olympic Park's primary sewer and pumping station, and for the manufacture and installation of the security fence and gates around the park.
	The region has been awarded 20 Inspire Marks, the non-commercial brand for programmes inspired by the games. So far, the West Midlands region has also had over 1,046 schools register on 'Get Set', LOCOG's domestic education programme for London 2012.
	Over £6 million worth of funding has been secured to support an extensive programme of events and cultural activity across the West Midlands region in the run-up to 2012 including £2.2 million from the Legacy Trust to fund programmes to bring people together for community activities of all kinds.

Olympic Games 2012: Tickets

Ian Davidson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether ballot arrangements for tickets for events in the London 2012 Olympics will prioritise allocations to  (a) UK taxpayers and  (b) UK residents; what obligations there are upon the organisers in respect of EU citizens and ballot arrangements; by what mechanism priority in ticket allocation will be given to those who have provided funding for the Games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd. (LOCOG) is responsible for ticketing for the London 2012 games. LOCOG's ticketing plan will ensure that it raises the funds to stage the games and that it provides affordable and accessible tickets to deliver full venues.
	Under EU competition law, LOCOG must ensure that all EU citizens, including UK residents, are given fair and equitable opportunities to purchase London 2012 tickets.
	LOCOG has committed to making 75 per cent. of London 2012 tickets available via a public ballot process. The ballot will be open to all residents of the EU but LOCOG's promotional work around ticketing will be focused on the UK. LOCOG has already launched 'Sign-Up' encouraging all UK residents to register their details to receive information on ticket opportunities in advance of tickets going on sale in 2011. I hope all Members of the House will encourage their constituents to sign up to receive this information and to enter the ballot in 2011.

PRIME MINISTER

Trade Unions

Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister which staff in Downing Street work on policy relating to trade unions.

Gordon Brown: The staff in my Office work on a wide range of policies with a range of institutions.

YouTube

Nick Hurd: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 1897W, on the Internet, for what reason the decision was taken to disable the function on the YouTube channel to allow comments; and if he will amend the functionality to allow the public to post comments on its YouTube channel.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 1897W.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010,  Official Report, column 644W, on departmental communications, if she will place in the Library a copy of each document provided by APCO Worldwide to the Equality and Human Rights Commission on its campaign programme and awareness campaign.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
	APCO Worldwide produced a campaign book for the EHRC. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library as requested.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Hotels

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 1008W, on hotels, for what dates each of the five-star hotels were booked; and the name of each of the senior officials in whose name the bookings were made.

Maria Eagle: The dates of stays in five-star hotels are shown as follows.
	
		
			  Date of stay  Number of nights 
			 8 July 2008 1 
			 6 October 2008 1 
			 6 October 2008 1 
			 8 October 2008 1 
			 30 April 2008 2 
			 19 January 2009 1 
			 16 July 2008 1 
			 17 June 2008 2 
			 16 February 2009 1 
			 16 February 2009 2 
			 16 February 2009 1 
			 16 February 2009 1 
			 16 February 2009 1 
		
	
	The names of the staff are confidential but the grades of the staff staying and number of bookings were as follows:
	
		
			   Number of bookings 
			 Group Director 1 
			 Director 5 
			 Level 5 3 
			 Level 4 2 
			 Level 3 1 
			 Level 2 1 
			 Level 1 (support worker) 1 
			 Investigating Commissioner 1

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Paul Holmes: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government Equalities Office plans to take in response to the recommendations made in the Stern Review of how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales.

Maria Eagle: The Government welcome Baroness Stern's report and have recently published an interim response to her recommendations. Her report poses a number of challenges, as well as 23 recommendations, which need to be carefully considered before a fuller response is issued later this year.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members' Staff: Pensions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Leader of the House what the total monetary value of employer contributions towards the pensions of staff of hon. Members was in the most recent financial year.

Barbara Keeley: The total pension contributions paid by the House in the 2009-10 financial year to the Portcullis Pension Plan for staff of Members was £5.49 million.
	In addition, pension contributions totalling £254,453 were paid by the House to individual pension arrangements for staff of Members.

Public Duty Costs Allowance

John Mason: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  how much in public duty costs allowance has been paid to former Prime Ministers in each year since 1991;
	(2)  what the limit is of the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and when that limit will next be reviewed;
	(3)  what rules apply to claims made by former Prime Ministers from the public duty costs allowance;
	(4)  which office administers the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and what checks are made to ensure that claims against the allowance meet the criteria for funding from the allowance;
	(5)  what guidance is provided to former Prime Ministers on claiming from the public duty costs allowance; and if she will place a copy of that guidance in the Library.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	The public duties cost allowance, which is administered by the Cabinet Office, is paid in respect of office and secretarial expenses incurred by former Prime Ministers in connection with their public duties. All claims must be supported by documentary evidence. The allowance is not payable if the former Prime Minister is occupying the position of Leader of the Opposition. The allowance is linked to the ceiling of the centralised arrangements for payment of staff and secretarial support for MPs with London constituencies.
	Information on payments before the 1997-98 financial year is obtainable only at disproportionate cost. The total amount reimbursed each year, on a cash basis, on the public duties costs allowance is:
	
		
			   Maximum allowance which can be claimed by each former Prime Minister (£)  Total claimed by former Prime Ministers (£) 
			 1997-98 47,568 171,827 
			 1998-99 49,232 175,402 
			 1999-2000 50,264 171,984 
			 2000-01 51,572 167,955 
			 2001-02 52,760 186,922 
			 2002-03 72,310 278,615 
			 2003-04 74,985 235,809 
			 2004-05 77,534 274,794 
			 2005-06 84,081 294,546 
			 2006-07 87,276 244,638 
			 2007-08 90,505 174,551 
			 2008-09 100,205 190,888

NORTHERN IRELAND

Administration of Justice

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review mechanisms have been put in place for future spending on the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland following the recent criminal justice inspection report.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office already has processes to review expenditure on consultants across the Department and its arm's length bodies.
	The use of external consultants and professional services is reported in the annual departmental report which is laid in Parliament.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Paul Goggins: Voltage optimisers or equivalent technologies are not used within buildings occupied by the Department.

Departmental Furniture

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on antique furniture in each of the last five years; and what items were purchased.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arm's length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has incurred no expenditure on antique furniture in the last five years.

Departmental ICT

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which ICT projects initiated by his Department were cancelled before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred on each of those projects; who the contractors were of each of those projects; what the date of  (a) commencement and  (b) cancellation was of each of those projects; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There has been one ICT project cancelled by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) before completion since 1997. The Product Logging ICT Project was cancelled by the Forensic Science Agency at a cost of £8,500. The contractors were ICS Computing. The project commenced in June 2006 and was abandoned in November 2006.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.

Paul Goggins: The total cost to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) of employing press officers during 2008-09 was £579,343. No figures are available for the 1996-97 financial year.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has received no complaints regarding difficulties using the website.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: A review of my Department's website was conducted during the 2006-07 financial year to optimise the site and improve performance and download speeds. This review cost £15,677.

Inquiries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  which legal firms have worked  (a) for and  (b) with the Historical Enquiries Team; and how many hours of work each such legal firm had undertaken on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the final cost to the public purse of the Historical Enquiries Team;
	(3)  when he expects the Historical Enquiries Team to have completed its work;
	(4)  how much the Historical Enquiries Team had spent on legal fees on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many people the Historical Enquiries Team has employed in each type of post in each month since its inception;
	(6)  how many cases the Historical Enquiries Team has closed;
	(7)  what mechanisms the Historical Enquiries Team uses to measure its effectiveness;
	(8)  in respect of how many cases which the Historical Enquiries Team has declared closed, families of those whose deaths were under investigation have subsequently requested more information;
	(9)  how many and what proportion of cases within its remit the Historical Enquiries Team has examined since its inception;
	(10)  how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on security  (a) for legal companies,  (b) for witnesses and  (c) in total since its inception;
	(11)  how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on  (a) accommodation and  (b) advertising since its inception;
	(12)  how many cases the Historical Enquiries Team has completed to the satisfaction of the families of those whose deaths were under investigation;
	(13)  how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on IT since its inception;
	(14)  how much the Historical Enquiries Team has spent on IT consultants since its inception;
	(15)  what the budget is of the press office for the Historical Enquiries Team in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11;
	(16)  what the cost to the public purse had been of the Historical Enquiries Team on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The Historical Enquiries Team is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and copies of his letters will be placed in the Library of the House.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on mental health services for prisoners in each  (a) prison and  (b) health authority area in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many prisoners received such treatment in each such year.

Paul Goggins: Matters relating to all aspects of prisoners' health care in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, which falls within the remit of the devolved Northern Ireland Administration.

JUSTICE

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new criminal offences relating to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol have been enacted in each year since 1998.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	The following Acts, which received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2010 and for which the Home Secretary has policy responsibility and contained references to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol are listed as follows:
	Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997
	Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
	Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
	Policing and Crime Act 2009
	A total of nine new offences relating to the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol are included within the Acts above. The new offences are listed as follows:
	Persistent possession of alcohol in a public place (s30 of Policing and Crime Act 2009)
	DPPO-refusal to comply with request (s12(4) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001)
	Closure Orders (s25(3) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001)
	Closure Orders (s25(4) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001)
	Closure Orders (s25(5) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001)
	Closure Orders (s26(1) of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001)
	Confiscation Act (s1(3) of Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997)
	Breach of a Drinking Banning Order (s11(1) of Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006)
	Directions to leave-failure to comply with direction (s27(6) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006)

Cemeteries

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on  (a) communal graves and  (b) burial arrangements for paupers.

Bridget Prentice: Our current guidance reminds burial ground managers not to discriminate in the way common graves are provided in cemeteries and encourages them to be treated with as much sensitivity and respect as any other graves.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what  (a) the cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Jack Straw: The provision and offering of hospitality is governed by the Department's internal hospitality policy, which is consistent with the principles of Managing Public Money and the HM Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_governance_valueformoney.htm
	The guiding principle of the Department's internal policy is that gifts and hospitality must only be provided or accepted in exceptional circumstances where they:
	are appropriate to the circumstances; and
	are modest and appropriate
	For example:
	token items such as promotional pens; or
	routine hospitality such as coffee and biscuits; or
	a light working lunch where there are external attendees, meetings are lengthy or internal attendees have travelled long distances.
	Attendance at, and hosting of, hospitality events by Department and agency staff is recorded in local hospitality registers, in accordance with Ministry of Justice policy. These data are not collated centrally, and gathering information from local registers (including operational establishments) would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
	Therefore, a list of the five most expensive events during the last three years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, at the start of the legal year the Lord Chancellor hosts a breakfast after a service at Westminster Abbey. This event is attended by senior judiciary from the UK and overseas and this event is likely to be one of the higher value events hosted by the Ministry of Justice. The expenditure for the past three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Accounting year  £ 
			 2009-10 29,953 
			 2008-09 50,391 
			 2007-08 29,952 
		
	
	In 2008-09 there was a switch from the House of Lords Refreshments Department to the House of Commons Catering and Retail Services. The usual function rooms and catering services were not available and consequently the costs of staging the event were higher. The choice of menu/catering has since been reviewed and economies made, enabling a reduction in costs for 2009-10.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 833W, on legal costs, how many employees have instigated legal proceedings against his Department in cases concerning remuneration in each month of the last three years.

Michael Wills: Details of the number of employees instigating legal proceedings against the Ministry of Justice (excluding NOMS) are contained in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			  2007-08  
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 0 
			 September 1 
			 October 3 
			 November 0 
			 December 2 
			 January 1 
			 February (1)57 
			 March 1 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 April 2 
			 May 1 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 0 
			 September 0 
			 October 0 
			 November 0 
			 December 1 
			 January 2 
			 February 0 
			 March 0 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 April 1 
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 1 
			 August 1 
			 September 2 
			 October 1 
			 November (2)34 
			 December 0 
			 January 1 
			 (1) Including one Employment Tribunal claim with 54 claimants. (2) Including one Employment Tribunal claim with 34 claimants. 
		
	
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. It has not been possible to obtain information covering NOMS in answer to this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 833W, on legal costs, in how many cases concerning remuneration of employees the final ruling was  (a) in favour of and  (b) against his Department in each month of the last three years.

Michael Wills: In the core Ministry of Justice (excluding NOMS) none of the cases whose legal costs or compensation values reported in my answer of 16 March were subject to a final ruling.
	All cases were either withdrawn by the claimants or where applicable, settlement was agreed by the Ministry in advance of a ruling.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is an Agency of the Ministry of Justice. It has not been possible to obtain information covering NOMS in answer to this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

Magistrates: Age

Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are taken to ensure that appointments of magistrates avoid discrimination on grounds of age.

Jack Straw: The Lord Chancellor appoints magistrates with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice. They are recruited and selected by 101 local advisory committees. The following steps are designed to avoid all forms of discrimination in that process:
	appointment is strictly on merit; eligible candidates are assessed solely against the key qualities required of all magistrates, irrespective of factors such as age
	all advisory committee members undertake mandatory training on how to avoid bias or discrimination during the selection process
	the selection process has been reviewed by my Department's legal advisers to ensure compliance with applicable anti-discrimination legislation.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative party and  (b) Liberal Democrat party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to answer given by my hon. Friend, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Political Parties: Finance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010,  Official Report, column 795W, on political parties: finance, what response he made to Sir Hayden Phillips' request on release of the minutes and background papers.

Jack Straw: My response to Sir Hayden Phillips consented to the release of the minutes and background papers from the inter-party talks on party funding.

Prisoners: Mobile Phones

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prosecutions there have been for offences relating to pornographic or violent images discovered on telephones seized from inmates in prisons in England and Wales in the last 12 months;
	(2)  whether his Department has evidence of the transfer of violent or pornographic images from telephone to telephone by inmates in prisons in England and Wales.

Maria Eagle: The court proceedings database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. The court proceedings database does not hold specific information on offences beyond descriptions provided by the statutes under which prosecutions are brought. Information available centrally on defendants proceeded against does not identify if the defendant is a prisoner. While data are extracted from mobile phones by a central unit, action taken as a result of that data is a matter for individual establishments and their partners. This is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	David Blakey's report and the Government response were published on 7 July 2008. The report emphasised the difficulties inherent in reducing contraband supply in prisons, and highlighted the link between drug supply and mobile phone availability in prisons.
	Good progress has been made in implementing Blakey's recommendations and the Government are committed to reducing the number of mobile phones in prisons and addressing the risks that mobile phones present both to prison security and to the safety of the public. We have implemented a strategy to minimise the number of mobile phones entering prisons, to find phones that do get in and to disrupt mobile phones that cannot be found.
	As part of this we have already strengthened the law through the Offender Management Act 2007, which made it an offence with a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment to bring a mobile phone or component into a prison. We are also taking forward legislation to criminalise the possession of devices including mobile telephones within a prison without authorisation.
	Due to the covert nature of mobile phone use in prisons, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is not able to estimate the number of mobile phones or component parts in circulation. NOMS is also unable to assess their usage.
	Prisons in England and Wales are instructed to send mobile phones and SIM cards found to a central unit and the data extracted from these mobile phones are then shared with establishments so that appropriate action can be taken locally. A record of these local actions is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Organised Crime

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of offences relating to involvement in organised crime were in prison when charged with those offences in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The data requested are not held.
	There is no list of offences that relate to involvement in organised crime. Therefore, to provide these data would require an investigation into each individual conviction where the offender was in prison custody when charged, and in many cases a subjective assessment as to whether the offence related to serious organised crime. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report "Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime" to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals while in prison.

Prisons: Organised Crime

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate the Prison Service has made of the incidence of organised crime carried out by serving prisoners over the last three years.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1086W.
	Covert criminal activity is, of its nature, very difficult to quantify. Prisons have a well established security information reporting framework. Where concerns are identified about a prisoner's potential criminal activity, prisons can draw on a range of measures to identify and disrupt that activity.
	The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report "Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime" to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals while in prison.

Prisons: Organised Crime

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were charged with a serious crime carried out while they were in prison in 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: While the number of serious offences, as defined by schedule 1 to the Serious Crime Act 2007, are recorded, data as to whether the offender was imprisoned at the time of charge are not held. To provide the data would require an investigation into each such offence, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	The National Offender Management Service is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report "Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime" to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals whilst in prison.

Protection of Badgers Act 1992

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there have been for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in each year since 2006.

Claire Ward: The requested information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2006 to 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			 2006  2007 
			   Statute  Offence description  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Sentenced  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Sentenced 
			 10822 Badgers Act 1973 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, s.26 and Badgers Act 1991, s.1 Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts. 10 3 3 20 6 6 
			 11120 Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified. 12 4 4 10 5 5 
		
	
	
		
			 2008( 3) 
			   Statute  Offence description  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Sentenced 
			 10822 Badgers Act 1973 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, s.26 and Badgers Act 1991, s.1 Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts. 22 11 11 
			 11120 Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified. 14 11 11 
			 (1) The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.   Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.

Trade Unions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 383-84W, on trade unions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the secondment agreement between his Department and the PCS trade union.

Jack Straw: Agreements are not generic documents, but are specific to the individual on secondment. We currently have two employees on secondment to PCS, and copies of their agreements will be placed in the Library.

Tribunals: Disability Living Allowance

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeal tribunals relating to disability living allowance took place in each of the smallest administrative areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The Tribunals Service is only able to provide figures for each administrative area from 2007-08. Prior to this, disability living allowance appeals were administered by the Appeals Service, an agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP is unable to break down its figures in the way the hon. Member has requested.
	The First-tier Tribunal-Social Security and Child Support has seven administrative centres across the country. The following information is the most comprehensive that the Tribunals Service Management Information system can provide.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance: clearances at hearing by centre 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 (up to 28 February 2010)( 1) 
			 Birmingham (East and West Midlands and East of England Government Office Regions) and (London Government(2) Office Region) * * 6,445 8,846 9,054 
			 Cardiff (Wales) and South West Government Office Region * * 7,931 7,285 7,269 
			 Glasgow (Scotland) * * 9,601 8,220 6,803 
			 Leeds (Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office Region) * * 5,095 5,382 4,330 
			 North West (North West Government Office Region) * * 8,034 8,563 8,090 
			 Newcastle (North East Government Office Region) * * 3,535 3,452 3,228 
			 Nottingham(3) * * 12,847 8,824 5,021 
			 Sutton(4) (South East and London(2) Government Office Regions) * * 4,342 3,308 4,282 
			 Total 71,125 65,088 57,830 53,880 48,077 
			 "*" = Figures for April 2006 to March 2007 are unavailable. (1) Figures provided for April 2009 to February 2010 are provisional and subject to further change. (2) Covers whole of Government Office Region London except Hillingdon, Harrow, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Hackney which are covered by Birmingham. (3) The Nottingham office transferred its caseload which covered the East Midlands, East of England and part of the London region (see 2 above) to the Birmingham office on 18 December 2009. (4) Prior to 29 June 2009, part of Sutton's caseload was administered by the Nottingham office and is included in the Nottingham figures up until that date.  Notes: 1. Figures provided for financial years April 2007 to February 2010 were extracted from GAPS 2 (Generic Appeals Processing System) Statistical Summary Reports dated 25 March 2010. 2. Figures prior to April 2007 supplied by DWP. From April 2006 there was a transitional period when DWP recorded data on more than one computer system (GAPS 1 and GAPS 2). Some information was not updated on the system and as a result a breakdown by area is not available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were processed by the Child Support Agency in each of the last 10 years.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases were dealt with by the Child Support Agency in each of the last 10 years.
	The number of live and assessed cases being handled in each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. This includes old scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. Figures include cases processed off the system from 2008. Information on these cases prior to this date is not included as this information can not be broken down into those live or assessed.
	
		
			  Table 1: Caseload  by scheme: live and a ssessed  c ases 
			  Period as at:  Old s cheme  Current s cheme  Overall a gency 
			 November 2000 1,044,500 - 1,044,500 
			 November 2001 1,054,800 - 1,054,800 
			 November 2002 1,079,500 - 1,079,500 
			 December 2003 935,400 65,200 1,000,700 
			 December 2004 868,300 169,600 1,037,900 
			 December 2005 816,400 293,700 1,110,100 
			 December 2006 747,600 418,700 1,166,300 
			 December 2007 669,700 556,700 1,226,400 
			 December 2008 607,300 656,200 1,263,500 
			 December 2009 521,900 691,200 1,213,100 
			  Notes: 1. Figures from December 2008 accurately reflect the performance of cases processed off the system. Prior to 2008, the clerical caseload cannot be broken down to show the number of live and assessed cases. 2. Figures include old Scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current Scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. 3. From 2003, changes were made to the quarterly periods in which figures were recorded. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many enquiries made to the Child Support Agency (CSA) were responded to  (a) over the telephone and  (b) in writing in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the policy is of the CSA on responding to requests that details of a telephone conversation be confirmed in writing.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the right hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many enquiries made to the Child Support Agency (CSA) were responded to (a) over the telephone and (b) in writing in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the policy is of the CSA on responding to requests that details of a telephone conversation be confirmed in writing.
	Information on how the Child Support Agency (CSA) responded to enquires made by (a) over the telephone and, (b) in writing is not available as the purpose of calls and correspondence is not recorded for management information purposes. There is no specific policy on how the CSA handle requests for written confirmation of a conversation. Management encourage employees to use the telephone when contacting clients as this is the fastest and most effective means of communication, however we will provide written confirmation to clients where there is a valid need.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Council Tax Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) representations she has received from and  (b) discussions she has had with (i) the Royal British Legion, (ii) other third sector organisations and (iii) other interested parties on the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate.

Helen Goodman: During the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill the Royal British Legion met with Ministers and officials a number of times to discuss the merits of the case for changing the name of council tax benefit and, subsequently, on how to take forward the change of name to council tax rebate. The Department has continued to receive some correspondence from interested parties concerning the name change.

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account her Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department does not procure food directly, but has a contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation which includes catering. The contract is with Telereal Trillium and its catering services supplier is Eurest (part of the Compass Group UK and Ireland). Since 2003, the Department has been working with these suppliers, actively pursuing a Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative action plan and one of the key objectives of this initiative is to raise farming standards.
	Compass Group have confirmed that they endorse the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms concept and provide full traceability of products and suppliers within their approved supply chain to ensure animals reared for meat, fish, milk and eggs are raised to high standards of animal welfare.
	Compass Group have also confirmed a long-standing commitment to source their seafood as sustainably as possible. They were the first foodservice company to achieve the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification enabling them to serve certified sustainable, MSC-labelled seafood choices. Within the DWP contract many of their sites are buying products to these standards and promotional activities are run to encourage DWP staff to purchase the more ethically sourced products.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1023W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign.

Jim Knight: The cost of the DWP Corporate website redesign was £216,000. The website was redesigned as part of our response to Sir David Varney's transformational government recommendations that customer-facing content should move to Directgov and employer-facing content to Business Link. We therefore redesigned the corporate site for its refined corporate audience and removed all customer-facing content, while at the same time implementing new Cabinet Office guidelines for Government websites.

Employment Schemes: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham have received  (a) the in-work credit,  (b) the return to work credit and  (c) pathways to work since that scheme was introduced.

Helen Goodman: 1,480 lone parents in the Birmingham local authority area have received in-work credit since it became available there in April 2008.
	15,190 individuals received provider-led pathways to work support in the Birmingham local authority area up to the end of July 2009.
	1,120 individuals received the return to work credit in the Birmingham local authority area up to the end of October 2009.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the likely effects on the voluntary sector of the decision to reduce the number of prime contractors under the Work Choice Programme.

Jonathan R Shaw: Smaller, specialist organisations including those from the faith-based, voluntary and third sector already play an important role in delivering support to our customers. For example, as of 1 March 2010, 29 per cent. of the Department's Welfare to Work contracts were with providers from the third sector, compared to 38 per cent. from the private sector and 33 per cent. from the public sector.
	As we move to longer, larger contracts with prime contractors, it is important that we do all we can to ensure that organisations from the voluntary and third sector are engaged and made aware of the opportunities to work as sub-contractors/partners with the prime contractors. Prime contractors will be expected to ensure that DWP provision is joined up with local partnership arrangements, working with smaller, specialist providers, many of whom will be third sector or voluntary organisations dealing with disadvantaged groups in the local area.
	Specifically, as part of the procurement of the Work Choice programme, DWP established a database to facilitate the networking between prospective prime contractors and delivery partners. This was published on the DWP website; updated on an ongoing basis and included the contact details of all organisations who agreed to have these details published. Additionally, two events took place in September 2009, to further facilitate networking between potential prime providers and those organisations seeking to deliver at sub-contractor level. Nearly 600 people attended these events.
	DWP are taking every public and private opportunity to stress to potential prime providers that they are taking a keen interest in observing how organisations are taking forward their partnering strategies and the care with which they are engaging with third sector organisations.

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in each employment sector  (a) were originally expected to be created by Future Jobs Fund funding and  (b) are expected to be created as a result of successful bids for such funding.

Jim Knight: The Future Jobs Fund does not include targets for the creation of jobs in specific sectors. The Future Jobs Fund is a challenge fund and we are therefore unable to provide any detail about the volumes of jobs that might be created in each sector.
	The Department and HMT agreed an aspiration of creating 10,000 'green jobs' through the Future Jobs Fund. This includes jobs in environmental sectors, renewable energy technologies, and emerging low-carbon sectors.
	Of the 117,000 Future Jobs Fund jobs we've agreed to fund to date, around 17,000 have been green jobs.

Incapacity Benefit

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time of incapacity benefit applications was in  (a) the UK and  (b) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each quarter of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the average processing time of incapacity benefit applications was in (a) the UK and (b) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each quarter of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The average actual clearance time (AACT) is calculated from our benefit processing system and is a result of taking all the claim volumes processed within any given month against the total number of days each claim has taken to process. The system conducts a simple division calculation using these data sets to provide us with the AACT.
	The two dates used to calculate the AACT for incapacity benefit were from the date a properly complete claim form is received by Jobcentre Plus to the date a decision is made.
	I have provided the AACT data for the last five years and current performance to January 2010. For 2005/06 the data is displayed by district level and from 2006/07 onwards the data has been gathered by Benefit Delivery Centre. This is the lowest geographical area we can provide. For national level performance we have provided in month performance from April 2005 to January 2010. I have arranged to have this information placed in the House of Commons Library.
	We do not record the requested data quarterly as the data is not collated in this way. However, we have provided information in monthly and yearly tables.
	I hope this information is helpful.

National Insurance: Gurkhas

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many National Insurance numbers her Department has issued to Gurkha veterans settling in the United Kingdom since August 2009;
	(2)  how long on average it has taken to issue a National Insurance number to a Gurkha veteran settling in the United Kingdom since August 2009.

Helen Goodman: The information is not available.

New Deal for Young People

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of  (a) early and  (b) normal entrants to the new deal for young people left in order to take up employment in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the new deal programmes have helped some 2.25 million people into work since they were introduced in 1998. This includes 915,650 jobseekers who have been helped into work by the new deal for young people.
	None the less, the labour market has changed significantly over the last decade and the programme needs to evolve to ensure it is ready for the challenges of the next 10 years. This is why we are introducing the refreshed jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal which will offer a four-stage programme of support, with increasing levels of customer responsibility at each stage.
	The introduction of the flexible new deal will support the Government's aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment.
	Implementation of the new jobseekers regime and the flexible new deal began in April 2009 as part of a phased approach across the country. This programme will be available to jobseekers in most areas of the country by October 2010.
	The recording of destinations of new deal participants in 2009 has been affected by the transition to the refreshed jobseeker's allowance and flexible new deal.
	The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Leavers from the new deal for young people (early entrants) 
			  Destinations from 2004 up to August 2009 (latest data available) 
			  Calendar year  Number  to employment  Proportion of entrants (percentage) 
			 2004 17,000 45.6 
			 2005 13,690 40.3 
			 2006 11,140 36.0 
			 2007 12,030 35.8 
			 2008 11,110 34.1 
			 2009(1) 7,680 24.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Leavers from the new deal for young people (other than early entrants) 
			  Destinations from 2004 up to Augu st 2009 (latest data available)- number 
			  Calendar year  Number to employment  Proportion of entrants (percentage) 
			 2004 53,730 40.8 
			 2005 43,830 36.7 
			 2006 51,560 35.4 
			 2007 57,490 35.8 
			 2008 41,920 33.1 
			 2009(1) 33,360 24.8 
			 (1) The 2009 figures are to August 2009 only, the last month for which figures are available.  Notes: 1. Definitions and conventions: Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages are rounded to one decimal point. 2. Those not recorded as leaving the new deal programmes to take up employment include those leaving to benefits, people who have gone abroad, people who have taken up jobs without notifying the jobcentre, or those who have left and not notified Jobcentre Plus of their destination. 3. The employment category includes leavers for whom information indicated that they had both a job start and a new benefit claim within two weeks of leaving new deal.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

New Deal Schemes: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding in total has been received under new deal programmes for  (a) young people,  (b) 25+,  (c) 50+,  (d) lone parents,  (e) partners and  (f) disabled people in Birmingham; and how many people in Birmingham have received assistance from each such scheme.

Jim Knight: The most recent data can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Programme funding and new deal starters in Birmingham and Solihull district 
			  Programme  2008-09 Outturn (£ million)  2008-09 Starts 
			 New deal for young people 5.004 7,150 
			 New deal for 25 plus 1.866 2,200 
			 New deal for lone parents 1.590 5,400 
			 New deal for partners - 0 
			 New deal for disabled people - 0 
			 Total 8.461 14,800 
			  Notes 1. Figures may not sum due to rounding 2. The figures only reflect provision costs and spend on in work training grants there is no estimation of the costs of Jobcentre Plus adviser time which is substantial for some programmes. 3. New deal for young people and new deal for 25 plus figures for funding include new deal for the self employed and new deal for musicians. 4. New deal for 50 plus spend and starts are incorporated in the new deal for 25 plus figures. 5. Funding for the new deal for disabled people is not available below national level. This figure is published in the Departmental Report 2009, which is available in the Library. 6. Because of the small numbers involved, we do not have reliable data for the starts and spend for the new deal for partners in this district. National data are published in the Departmental Report 2009, which is available in the Library. 7. Starts figures are rounded to the nearest 50. 8. Latest data on starters are from the introduction of the new deal programmes to August 2009. 9. New deal for disabled people starters (individuals) data are not available; Job Broker Registrations (individuals) has been used instead. 10. Spells (period of time spent on the programme) are not available for new deal for 50 plus and new deeal for partners so individual level data are used instead. Spells data are used for new deal for young people, new deal for 25 plus and new deal for lone parents.  Source : Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate. 
		
	
	The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the new deal programme has helped more than 2.25 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people are in receipt of the  (a) (i) care and (ii) mobility component of disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance in the (A) south-west and (B) UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance :  cases in payment - care award type by south-west Government office region 
			   Higher rate  Middle rate  Lower rate  Nil rate  Total 
			 GB caseloads 710,110 1,021,440 859,510 502,050 3,093,090 
			 GB proportions (percentage) 1.2 1.7 1.4 0.8 5.2 
			 South-west caseloads 45,970 81,290 66,250 37,070 230,580 
			 South-west proportions (percentage) 0.9 1.6 1.3 0.7 4.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Disability living allowance: cases in payment-mobility award type by south-west Government office region 
			   Higher rate  Lower rate  Nil rate  Total 
			 GB caseloads 1,763,930 923,250 405,910 3,093,090 
			 GB proportions (percentage) 3.0 1.5 0.7 5.2 
			 South-west caseloads 124,510 71,030 35,040 230,580 
			 South-west proportions (percentage) 2.4 1.4 0.7 4.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Attendance allowance: cases in payment-care award type in south-west Government office region 
			   Higher rate  Lower rate  Total 
			 GB caseloads 896,750 708,380 1,605,120 
			 GB proportions (percentage) 1.5 1.2 2.7 
			 South-west caseloads 72,570 92,600 165,170 
			 South-west proportions (percentage) 1.4 1.8 3.2 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. " -" = Nil or negligible, n/a = Not applicable. 2. Cases in payment show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Recipients of disability living allowance can be in receipt of both the care and mobility component.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the population in St. Ives constituency are in receipt of each level of  (a) attendance allowance and  (b) the (i) care and (ii) mobility component of disability living allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance: cases in payment by care award-August 2009 
			  Care award type  Higher rate  Middle rate  Lower rate  Nil rate  Total 
			 St. Ives-caseloads 1,230 1,910 1,740 920 5,790 
			 St. Ives-percentage of population 1.2 1.9 1.7 0.9 5.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Disability living allowance :  cases in payment by mobility award - August 2009 
			  Mobility award type  Higher rate  Lower rate  Nil rate  Total 
			 St. Ives-caseloads 3,410 1,570 810 5,790 
			 St. Ives-percentage of population 3.4 1.6 0.8 5.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Attendance allowance:  cases in payment by attendance allowance  award type -August 2009 
			  Attendance allowance award type  Higher Rate  Lower Rate  Total 
			 St. Ives-caseloads 1,650 2,030 3,690 
			 St. Ives-percentage of population 1.7 2.0 3.7 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Cases in payment show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Recipients of disability living allowance can be in receipt of both the care and mobility component.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

State Retirement Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number of recipients of the state second pension whose entitlement includes years past 2002 when they were in receipt of incapacity benefit; how much extra state second pension is paid per week per recipient in respect of such years; and what estimate she has made of the expenditure on such accrued rights in 2009-10.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 25 March 2010
	 State second pension expenditure in 2009-10 due to the accrual of rights via receipt of incapacity benefit is estimated at around £300 million in 2009-10 price terms.
	We are unable to provide information relating to the number of people to whom this expenditure relates or the average amounts in payment as modelling of state second pension expenditure is performed on an aggregate basis and does not take account of individual entitlements.
	In 2007-08, the latest period for which data are available, 900,000 women and 1,300,000 men of working age accrued rights to state second pension through receipt of incapacity benefit.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	2. Forecasts of state second pension/state earnings related pension scheme are based on the Budget Report 2010 forecasts. Published expenditure tables can found at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp
	3. Figures for 2007-08 are provisional as they will be subject to change as further information about national insurance contributions becomes available.
	 Sources:
	Strategy Directorate modelling and Lifetime Labour Market Database, 2007-08.

Unemployment

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2010,  Official Report, column 605, if she will estimate the savings in unemployment benefits and other benefits from unemployment being 650,000 lower in 2010 than the average predicted by independent forecasts; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 March 2010
	Between the Budget 2009 and the Budget 2010, the expected level of UK unemployment was reduced. By the end of 2009, the actual UK unemployment claimant count was already nearly 500,000 less than expected at the Budget 2009.
	Unemployment is now expected to be 700,000 lower in 2010 than in the Budget 2009. The savings in benefits across 2010-11 to 2014-15 compared with what was assumed at Budget 2009 is around £14 billion. This includes spend relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit as well as jobseeker's allowance.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Budget 2010, HC 451, if she will estimate the saving to the Exchequer in each of the next five years of increasing the age of entitlement to winter fuel payments to 65 years.

Angela Eagle: Following a European Court of Justice Judgment in December 1999, the winter fuel payment scheme was extended to all those aged 60 and over.
	The requested information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Savings (2009-10 price terms) 
			   £ million 
			 2010-11 600 
			 2011-12 420 
			 2012-13 340 
			 2013-14 270 
			 2014-15 220 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure for GB only, rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. The European Court of Justice ruled that, by not paying winter fuel payments to men aged 60 to 64, but paying eligible women from age 60, the scheme was discriminatory. The ruling was applied from the beginning of the scheme, the winter of 1997-98. 3. Savings are modelled using current policy of increasing age of entitlement to winter fuel payments to 65 by 2020, against a scenario if age entitlement to winter fuel payments was increased to 65 immediately in each of the next five financial years. Modelling assumes anyone 60-64 currently receiving winter fuel payment would no longer receive it. 4. A winter fuel payment of £250 per household is modelled for 2010-11. For subsequent years a winter fuel payment of £200 per household is modelled. 5. Savings are for each financial year and become smaller as the age of entitlement increases with current policy. The drop in savings from 2010-11 to 2011-12 is also due to the decrease in winter fuel payment amounts assumed.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which items of equipment procured since 2001 and made available to operations in Afghanistan were procured as part of his Department's core equipment programme.

Quentin Davies: The following table, which is based on centrally held records, lists the majority of equipment projects with a cost of £20 million or over that were procured from the core equipment programme since 2004 and made available to operations in Afghanistan. A number of equipment projects have not been included as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	Details of equipment projects procured prior to 2004, and projects costing less than £20 million for the entire period covered by the question, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Category  Equipment 
			 Land Equipment Battle Group Thermal Imaging 
			  Trojan 
			  Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV)(1) 
			  Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System 
			  Future Fire Control System 
			  Wheeled Tankers 
			  Pinzgauer 4x4 Truck Utility Medium Fitted For Radio 
			  Dismounted Counter Mine Capability-Vallon handheld mine detector 
			  Support Vehicle (SV) 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Crane Terex 35 Tonne 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Light Wheel Tractor All Arms JCB 3CX 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Light Wheeled Tractor JCB 4CX 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Medium Wheeled Tractor 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Bulldozer Cat D5N 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Heavy Well Drills 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Rough Terrain Forklift 2400 kg JCB 
			  C Vehicle PFI-Rough terrain Forklift 4000 kg JCB 
			  Operational Field Catering System (OFCS) 
			  Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar 
			   
			 Weapons Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon 
			  Javelin Follow-On Buy 
			   
			 Air Support C-17 (5th Aircraft) 
			  C-17 (6th aircraft) 
			   
			 Information Systems and Services Bowman 
			  UIC/TSC503 Transportable SATCOM Terminals 
			   
			 Helicopters Chinook Coherence 
			 (1 )The Panther CLV was procured through the core equipment programme but a number of the vehicles underwent a modification, funded as an urgent operational requirement, to enable them to operate in Afghanistan. 
		
	
	Other equipment projects are planned to be procured from the core equipment programme to be made available for operations in Afghanistan. These include land equipment, information systems and services and helicopter projects and the 7th C17. Many other equipment projects procured from the core equipment programme have delivered capability in support of other operations.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Operation Eagle's Summit in 2008 necessitated the redeployment of British forces from elsewhere in Helmand Province.

Bob Ainsworth: While extensive support was provided by British forces to Operation Oqab Tsuka (Eagle's Summit), to move a turbine from Kandahar to Kajaki, it did not require the long-term redeployment of British troops from elsewhere in Helmand Province.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Scout vehicles will carry out in Afghanistan; and what the cost of each such vehicle will be on deployment in theatre.

Quentin Davies: The Scout vehicles will be the principal reconnaissance vehicles of the British Army and will replace Scimitar vehicles which are currently deployed in Afghanistan. The final numbers and costs will be determined at the manufacture investment decision point.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what main weapons systems Scout vehicles will have on deployment in Afghanistan; which companies are the  (a) manufacturers and  (b) suppliers of the ammunition for the vehicle's main weapons systems; what the cost is per round of ammunition; and what estimate he has made of the lifespan of the barrel of the main weapon system per number of rounds fired.

Quentin Davies: The intent is for the Scout vehicle's main weapon system to be the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon provided by Cased Telescoped Ammunition International, a joint private venture between BAES and Nexter. On current plans, BAES will produce the ammunition for the cannon at their facilities in Glascoed, South Wales under the Department's Munitions Acquisition Supply Solution (MASS) contract. The cost of each round of ammunition will be determined during commercial negotiations before the MASS contract is amended to incorporate the 40 mm ammunition. The lifespan of the barrel will be established during the qualification programme for the cannon and ammunition. The qualification programme consists of an extensive series of tests and trials to ensure that the cannon and ammunition are safe, reliable and effective for use by the British Army.

Air Force

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to retain the Royal Air Force as a separate service after the next Strategic Defence Review.

Bill Rammell: Yes, it is my policy to retain the three services.

Aircraft Carriers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) contracts and  (b) sub-contracts related to the construction of two aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy have been let; in which constituencies he expects work arising from such contracts and sub-contracts to take place; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: In July 2008, the MOD placed a contract with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) for the manufacture of two Queen Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carriers. Work on the QE class aircraft carriers is now under way in five UK shipyards-Appledore, Rosyth, Govan, Portsmouth and Tyne, with work due to start at the sixth and final yard, Birkenhead, in the next few months.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 21 January 2010,  Official Report, column 437W. An updated list of sub-contracts will be placed in the Library of the House, which includes the constituencies where work will be carried out.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department has allocated for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers returning from active duty to  (a) England and  (b) Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Financial information is not held in the format requested. Owing to the number of different internal budgets to which costs would be attributable, any detailed analysis of Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) finances would therefore incur disproportionate costs. The majority of mental healthcare for service personnel is provided through MOD's 15 military-run DCMHs in the UK (with additional centres in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar), which have since 2004 provided out-patient mental healthcare for members of the armed forces.
	In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in specialised Mental Health units under contract with an external provider. Between April 2004 and March 2009, this was provided by the Priory Healthcare Group, and costs in each financial year are contained in the following table:
	
		
			   Contract value (£ million) 
			 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 0.4 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 4.2 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 4.5 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 3.4 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 3.9 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 3.3 
		
	
	These figures take into account the cost of assessing patients as well as any in-patient treatment programmes provided; the individual care needs of each patient will vary depending on their particular medical circumstances. They also include services provided by the Priory Group between 1 December 2003 and April 2004 prior to the formal contract start date.
	The contract with the Priory Group has been replaced by one awarded in November 2008 to a partnership of seven NHS trusts led by South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust. They admitted their first patients under this contract in February 2009. Costs for its first year of operation will be available in summer 2010. Prior to April 2004, in-patient care was provided at MOD's Duchess of Kent psychiatric hospital at Catterick; full historic costs back to 1997 are not available.
	The Ministry of Defence takes the mental health of its personnel very seriously. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious issue, and one we are making every effort to address, PTSD itself makes up only around 5 per cent. of the mental health burden of the armed forces. The majority of service personnel who develop a mental health condition will suffer from less serious conditions, such as neurotic or adjustment disorders, but we offer assessment and treatment to individuals who might be concerned about any aspect of their mental health.
	The DCMHs are located to be convenient for major centres of military population, and support the provision of healthcare that is available through service primary care facilities. Many of the less serious mental health disorders are managed by primary care providers; sometimes cases are co-managed by DCMH staff and primary care staff.
	While there are no DCMHs located in Wales itself, we nevertheless have arrangements in place to ensure that mental healthcare can be provided conveniently and flexibly, while reflecting the number of service personnel in the principality and their wide dispersion. Staff from the DCMH at Donnington in Shropshire run regular clinics in locations which cover all the major concentrations of personnel in Wales, namely Valley, St. Athan, Brawdy and Brecon, as well as at locations on the Welsh border such as Chepstow and Hereford. They will additionally visit individual patients as required at their home or other location. Personnel based in Wales who need to attend a DCMH will usually be referred to that at Donnington, although other units, such as those in Portsmouth and Plymouth, may be used if more convenient.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service family accommodation properties in England and Wales were identified as awaiting disposal or demolition in each year since 2004; and how much rent was paid to Annington Homes for those properties in each of those years.

Kevan Jones: It will take more time to collate and verify the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Willie Rennie:
	In my answer of 12 March (Official Report, column 479W) I undertook to write to you with details of how many service family accommodation properties in England and Wales were identified for disposal or demolition in each year since 2004: and how much rent was paid to Annington Homes Ltd (Ltd) for those properties in each of those years.
	The following number of properties were handed back to AHL in each year financial year since 2004-05. I also provide the following number of MOD owned properties that were disposed of, normally by open market sale, or demolished:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of properties handed back to AHL  Number of MOD properties disposed of  Number of properties demolished 
			 2004-05 676 76 0 
			 2005-06 307 24 0 
			 2006-07 460 5 0 
			 2007-08 260 45 0 
			 2008-09 475 1 1 
		
	
	It has not been possible to determine from records held how much rent was paid to AHL for each property from the point it was identified as being surplus to the MOD's requirements to when it was actually handed back to the company.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to manning control have been downgraded to Grade P 4 since 2007.

Kevan Jones: Decisions on the particular regiments and service roles on which soldier manning control points will be focused have not yet been made by the Army. Each individual case will be considered on its merits, irrespective of gender.

Armed Forces: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 9-10, on armed forces: Merseyside, how many young people in the UK cadet forces were recruited into the armed forces in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: There is no requirement for recruits into the armed forces to specify whether they had previously been a member of any cadet force.
	The cadet forces organisations seek to raise the awareness of opportunities for personal development in young people and support their career. They are not recruiting organisations, although it is acknowledged that where the cadet experience leads to a young person joining the armed forces, this is a benefit to defence.

Armed Forces: Training

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the planned closure of the research and assessment facility at the Defence Academy; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Defence Academy research and assessment branch undertook broad non-technical research in an evolving range of geo-strategic studies and cross-cutting global issues which centred around statecraft and governance. The Academy is currently assessing how non-technical research capability can still be delivered by reviewing the arrangements that it has in place with its academic providers Cranfield University and Kings College London to optimise the Academy's research in a manner which supports its primary activity (to enhance defence capability by providing high quality, relevant, progressive training and education underpinned by research to the four services) as well as contributing to the MOD's broader research effort.
	The Academy is also looking at closer integration with activity sponsored or conducted by the Directors Defence Studies, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Defence Concept and Doctrine Centre in order to mitigate any loss of capability through the closure of the research and assessment branch.

Defence Medical Services

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which private companies Defence Medical Services uses to hire civilian medical locums to work at UK medical facilities on deployed operations;
	(2)  how many civilian medical locums have been employed by Defence Medical Services to provide support to Operation Herrick; and what the  (a) specialism,  (b) length of deployment and  (c) cost was of each such locum.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 20 March 2010
	The company with which the Defence Medical Services (DMS) holds an enabling contract for contracted medical support (nursing, medical support services and doctors) is Frontier Medical. Each deployment is ordinarily for a three-month period and cover has only been required for up to eight posts at any one time.
	Set out in the following table are the total costs of the locums employed on Operation Herrick for each financial year since April 2007 to August 2009, together with the total numbers of individual personnel who have deployed at any time between the dates shown.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total individuals deployed at any time in period as civilian locums  Operation  Total cost £ million 
			 April 2007-March 2008 16 Herrick (Afghanistan) 0.612 
			 April 2008-March 2009 35 Herrick 2.34 
			 April 2009-August 2009 26 Herrick 0.79 
		
	
	The service chiefs have decided that detailed data will no longer be published where this would highlight potential pinch points within the armed forces, including the DMS. I am withholding information on pinch points as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	In order to maintain appropriate external scrutiny of such data, the Department will continue to provide comprehensive restricted manning data to the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Defence: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department incurred in  (a) equipment expenditure,  (b) non-equipment expenditure,  (c) service personnel costs and  (d) civil personnel costs in Scotland in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 29 March 2010
	Estimated direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure for Scotland in the categories requested for the years where data are available is presented in the following table:
	
		
			   2007-08 current prices (£ million) 
			  (a) Equipment expenditure 510 
			  (b) Non Equipment expenditure 280 
			  (c) Service personnel costs 590 
			  (d) Civilian personnel costs 190 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. Figures relate to expenditure in the whole Scottish Government office region rather than to any individual military or civilian establishments. 3. Indirect expenditure, such as subcontracted work, is not reflected in the figures. 4. Personnel costs exclude contributions made by MOD to the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme and War Pensions Scheme. 
		
	
	Since 2008 the MOD has not collected estimates of regional expenditure on equipment, non-equipment, or personnel costs as they do not directly support policy making or operations. The last estimates for 2007-08 were published in UK Defence Statistics in September 2009. As a result, the complex analysis required to produce the underlying regional expenditure data is no longer performed. Information for a comparable time series beyond 2007-08 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Kevan Jones: All members of the armed forces are required to maintain a level of physical fitness that allows them to fulfil their service obligations. As a result, gymnasiums located on military establishments are free to use by service personnel and in certain circumstances, where capacity allows, by civilian staff. In those isolated locations where a service gymnasium is not available, local subsidised arrangements are put in place, if possible, solely for service personnel.
	While MOD also allows existing on-site accommodation in some establishments to be used for fitness purposes and in doing so meets the cost of changing facilities, lighting, heating and any other utilities, it does not use public money to subsidise the running or equipping of gymnasiums for civilian staff. These gyms are run either through the auspices of the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) and funded by member subscription, or from other subscriptions from the users of the individual gym. Grants are also available from the Defence Sports and Recreation Association, which is the MOD departmental association of the CSSC, and is funded by grant from the CSSC and a local lottery.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Kevan Jones: Given that the aim of voltage optimisation (VO) is to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the performance of equipment, MOD is interested in these devices. However, we are currently seeking to validate the claims of equipment providers and a trial of these relatively new technologies is in progress at Lympstone. The outcome of the trial will inform our approach to the application of the technology across the estate.
	While opportunities exist for the installation of VO equipment, for the reasons given these have not in the main yet been taken up. That said, to assist the installation of the technology we have recently issued internal guidance on VO. This covers the factors to be considered before installation.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on  (a) strategy and planning,  (b) design and build,  (c) hosting and infrastructure,  (d) content provision and  (e) testing and evaluation for his Department's websites in each of the last three years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2009-10.

Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four principal websites. These sites are key channels to enable MOD to keep the public informed of defence activities, provide information about MOD and support recruitment.
	In support of the Transformational Government agenda, we have made significant progress in rationalising other Defence websites. The closure of some 53 websites has enabled us to make savings and improve the clarity and effectiveness of the departmental web presence. A further 19 sites are committed to close by 31 March 2011.
	The four remaining principal Defence websites register a high volume of web traffic. Annual page views for the corporate MOD site, www.mod.uk, have increased by 65 per cent. from 2006-09, from 17.5 million to 29 million.
	Annual unique visitor numbers for www.mod.uk have increased by 34 per cent. over the same period, from 3.2 million to 4.3 million.
	Expenditure for the four remaining principal sites over the last three financial years is summarised in the following table. Expenditure on these has increased while other websites have closed. Expenditure breakdown by category is not available for these financial years as this requirement was not introduced until 1 April 2009, when the Measuring Website Costs: TG128 guidance issued by the Central Office of Information (COI) came into effect. It should be noted that the expenditure figures shown are not directly comparable year on year as costs were captured differently in each year.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Financial year 
			  Website  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 MOD corporate website: www.mod.uk 177,875 325,600 464,853 
			 Royal Navy: www.royalnavy.mod.uk 270,000 283,000 283,000 
			 British Army: www.army.mod.uk 235,000 426,500 501,814 
			 Royal Air Force: www.raf.mod.uk 173,859 155,000 425,241 
		
	
	Projected expenditure broken down by category for the 2009-10 financial year for the four principal websites is detailed in the following table. Figures are exclusive of internal staff costs.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Website  Strategy and planning  Design and build  Hosting and infrastructure  Content provision  Testing and evaluation  Total 
			 Ministry of Defence: www.mod.uk 0 (1)417,900 126,000 (2)292 8,070 (1)552,262 
			 Royal Navy: www.royalnavy.mod.uk 100,000 (3)74,000 109,000 0 (4)- 283,000 
			 British Army: www.army.mod.uk 15,875 24,870 118,651 (2)1,704 25,300 186,400 
			 Royal Air Force: www.raf.mod.uk 22,085 147,691 49,675 0 2,938 222,389 
			 (1) This figure also includes expenditure on MOD's internal Defence intranet. (2) Translation services. (3) Includes testing and evaluation. (4) Included in design and build. 
		
	
	A number of other websites are run by different parts of the Ministry of Defence, but these are not managed centrally. Information on these sites could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its Department's website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites:
	 Ministry of Defence
	www.mod.uk
	 Royal Navy
	www.royalnavy.mod.uk
	 British Army
	www.army.mod.uk
	 Royal Air Force
	www.raf.mod.uk
	The MOD takes the provision of usable, accessible, quality websites very seriously and we continually evaluate the services provided in light of feedback received from members of the public. Each website provides feedback mechanisms such as 'Contact Us' forms. Feedback provided via these forms covers a number of topics, and complaints are not captured separately from other feedback. Details of the number of complaints received could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites. Expenditure on design consultancy cannot be separated from website redesign and implementation costs overall. Costs for redesign and implementation in the last three years, including design consultancy and other costs, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Website and URL   Cost (£) 
			 MOD corporate website: http://www.mod.uk 2007-08 150,000 
			 Royal Navy: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk 2007 110,000 
			 British Army: http://www.army.mod.uk 2008(1) 266,500 
			 Royal Air Force: http://www.raf.mod.uk 2006-07 119,579 
			 (1) The British Army website redesign launched on 30 May 2008; the redesign project launched in 2006 and preparatory design work was carried out between 2006 and 2008.

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence offers a wide range of relocation assistance to civilians transferring at public expense but this information is not held in the format requested.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years for which information is available; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: An element of the Ministry of Defence overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.
	For details on the maximum and average payments for staff in the senior civil service (SCS) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Leech) on 26 January 2010,  Official Report, column 796W. These are also the maximum payments made to any MOD civil servant. In 2006-07, 271 SCS staff were eligible for a non-consolidated performance payment, and 181 received one. In 2007-08, 266 were eligible and 186 received an award. In 2008-09, 268 were eligible and 187 received an award.
	For staff below the SCS, performance awards are paid to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Higher levels of award are available for those who have contributed most to the business. These awards are distributed on the basis of relative assessment among peers and are designed to encourage continuous high attainment against stretching objectives. All MOD broader banded and Skill Zone staff below the SCS are eligible for a non-consolidated performance payment. The majority of MOD civilian staff earn less than £20,000 per year.
	The MOD also operates an in-year non-consolidated payment scheme-the Special Bonus Scheme-which rewards eligible MOD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification, the use of which benefits MOD and the individual. Additionally Ministry of Defence police officers may be awarded a payment for exceptional performance when dealing with particularly demanding, unpleasant or important one-off tasks or situations.
	The following tables detail how many people received a non-consolidated performance related pay award (both in year and end of year), and the proportion of the total work force they represented, for the five most recent financial years.
	
		
			  Number of staff receiving a bonus payment 
			  Number 
			   Performance award  Special bonus 
			 2004-05 36,195 10,074 
			 2005-06 38,962 10,131 
			 2006-07 46,592 8,747 
			 2007-08 54,881 6,997 
			 2008-09 62,261 9,679 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of the work force receiving an award 
			  Percentage 
			   Performance award  Special bonus 
			 2004-05 37.1 10.3 
			 2005-06 40.7 10.6 
			 2006-07 51.4 9.6 
			 2007-08 65.4 8.3 
			 2008-09 79.3 12.3 
			  Note: The criteria for awarding performance-related pay have changed significantly during the period 2004-05 to 2008-09. It is therefore difficult to make direct comparisons of the annual figures although the trend has been towards more civil servants receiving smaller individual performance related payments. 
		
	
	For the total amount of bonuses paid to all civilian staff, I refer the hon. Member to the ministerial correction dated 25 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 3-4 MC.
	This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds, which have separate pay delegations.

Departmental Pay

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in each year since 2006.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) year-end and  (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).

Departmental Security

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department ceased to maintain a database of passes issued to major defence contractors.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has never maintained a comprehensive database of passes issued to defence contractors for the whole of the defence estate. The information is not held centrally and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information about passes issued to employees of private defence companies for access to London buildings, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 641-42W.

Electronic War

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has undertaken research on whether terrorist groups are seeking to obtain the capability to carry out electromagnetic pulse attacks on the UK.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 March 2010,  Official Report, column 479W. I have nothing further to add.

Electronic War

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack on the UK in the context of the National Security Strategy.

Bill Rammell: The Government's National Security Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy of June 2009 provide a view of potential state and non-state led threats against the UK into the future including the possible use of high power radio frequency transmissions or electromagnetic pulses to damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. The Ministry of Defence was fully involved with the development of this work.

Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to increase the level of defence spending on the Falkland Islands.

Bob Ainsworth: We keep the level of defence spending on the Falkland Islands under regular review to ensure that it remains appropriate to fund the tasks required.

Falkland Islands: Land Mines

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect full mine clearance in the Falkland Islands to be completed; and what relevant contracts to effect such clearance have been entered into.

Bill Rammell: The UK was granted a 10-year extension to its obligations under the Ottawa convention in November 2008. De-mining of the Falkland Islands therefore has to be completed by March 2019.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a four-site de-mining programme in the Falkland Islands. Clearance of these sites started in December 2009 and is expected to complete by July 2010. To date over 1,100 mines have been located and destroyed. Analysis of this project will inform future clearance work.

Future Rapid Effect System

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export potential was claimed by  (a) BAE Systems and  (b) General Dynamics as part of their proposals to upgrade the Future Rapid Effect System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract.

Quentin Davies: Neither BAE Global Combat Systems or General Dynamics UK made any specific claims with regard to export potential as part of their tender for the Specialist Vehicle programme.

Inquiries: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Ministry of Defence had spent under each budget heading on the  (a) Rosemary Nelson,  (b) Robert Hamill,  (c) Billy Wright and  (d) Saville Inquiry on the latest date for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: As at the end of February this year the Ministry of Defence had incurred a total of approximately £35.6 million in expenditure on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, of which £32.5 million represented legal costs and the remainder other costs. I gave the latest available figures on costs incurred by the Department in connection with the Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright Inquiries in a written answer on 9 November 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble).
	The Department has incurred no expenditure in connection with the Robert Hamill Inquiry.

Low Flying

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wind farm developers have agreed with his Department that low-flying aircraft activity may take place in the area of their wind farms.

Kevan Jones: Wind farm developers do not control the airspace within which their equipment is sited, and the Ministry of Defence does not have to approach them for authority to operate low-flying aircraft in the area of wind farms. However, generally, military aircraft will not operate in close proximity to wind farms, and will always maintain the appropriate minimum separation criteria.

Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current estimated monetary value is of the property comprising  (a) Naval Base Clyde,  (b) Royal Marines Condor,  (c) RAF Leuchars,  (d) 2nd Division HQ Craigiehall,  (e) Defence Estates Hebrides and  (f) Fort George; and how much his Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each of these bases.

Kevan Jones: Details of all Ministry of Defence holdings over £1 million, together with their latest asset valuations can be found in chapter 7 of the National Asset Register, on HM Treasury's website
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_investment_nar_2007_index.htm
	It will take a little more time to collect and verify information relating to how much the Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each base. I will write to the hon. Member.
	We are interpreting DE Hebrides as referring principally to Ministry of Defence sites at Benbecula and St. Kilda and a few other locations.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Angus Robertson:
	In my answers of 9 February (Official Report, column 814W-815W) I undertook to write to you with details of how much the Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to spend on the redevelopment of various bases in Great Britain.
	Work is currently under way at the MOD'S Hebrides Range to assess the investment required to maintain its capability. Until this work is complete, for which a deadline has not been set, any anticipated redevelopment expenditure cannot be identified. Also, no redevelopment work is planned at RAF Brampton as it is due to close in 2012.
	For the remaining sites, the forecasted expenditure for the next five years on work that is considered to be redevelopment is as follows:
	
		
			  MOD site  Total forecasted expenditure (£ million) 
			 Naval Base Clyde 101.6 
			 Royal Marines Condor 12.6 
			 HM Naval Base Devonport 39.0 
			 HM Naval Base Portsmouth 166.2 
			 Fort George 0.1 
			 2nd Div HQ Craigiehall 15 
			 RAF Leuchars 112.4 
			 RAF Valley 16.9 
			 RAF Marham 47.8 
			 RAF Honington 13.8 
			 RAF Wittering 35.3 
			 RAF Wattisham 0.8 
			 RAF Northolt 25.4 
			 RAF High Wycombe 35.4 
			 RAF Brize Norton 216.0 
			 RAF Leeming 29.4

Weapons: Transport

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the staffing levels required at each waterside depot to maintain the safe supply of armaments to vessels.

Bob Ainsworth: Staffing levels were assessed as part of the proposals made in the Business Improvement Programme undertaken by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency's Explosives Business Stream. These proposals are subject to trade unions consultation, which is due to complete in July 2010. It would be inappropriate for me to comment while the consultation is ongoing.

Weapons: Transport

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he took account of the recommendations of the Haddon-Cave Nimrod review in respect of the proposals for the supply of armaments to waterside depots by direct delivery contained in the Business Improvement Programme consultation.

Bob Ainsworth: Safety is paramount in the munitions environment. The use of direct delivery, if fully implemented, will be consistent with the Haddon-Cave recommendations.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 300284, on departmental pay, tabled on 18 November 2009.

Bob Ainsworth: I replied to the hon. Member today. I apologise for the delay.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010,  Official Report, column 170W, on nurseries, for what reason there is no reference to the petition in the minutes of the Commission's meeting of 8 March 2010; and when the Commission plans to respond to the petitioners.

Nick Harvey: The Commission made no decision on 8 March on a response to the petition. It agreed a response on 29 March.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the fully costed options appraisal for a child care facility at 1 Parliament street as agreed by the Commission at its meeting on 23 November 2009.

Nick Harvey: It is not the practice to publish advice given to the Commission. However, as the hon. Member knows, in response to a request from the Administration Committee, Mr. Speaker wrote to the Chairman of that Committee in January explaining how the planned site had been selected from among the sites initially considered and setting out the estimated cost of converting each of the premises covered by the fully costed options appraisal.

Speaker's Adviser

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much the Speaker's special adviser has claimed for travel expenses since he was appointed.

Nick Harvey: No expenses of any kind have been claimed.

Speaker's Adviser

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many days the Speaker's special adviser has worked since 30 November 2009.

Nick Harvey: The Speaker's adviser has worked for 73.5 days since 30 November 2009, up to and including 12 March 2010.

Unite

Philip Dunne: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the House of Commons Commission recognises the Unite trade union.

Nick Harvey: The Unite union is not a recognised trade union under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 for the purpose of collective bargaining with the House Service. However, the House Administration has recently agreed a draft memorandum of understanding with Unite and the Members' and Peers' Staff Association, who represent staff employed by hon. Members. The memorandum covers a range of areas for dialogue, including IT, catering, training and premises-related issues.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to place a cap on the maximum salary and remuneration package for the post of chief executive of the Audit Commission.

Rosie Winterton: This appointment is to be made by the Audit Commission, whose Chair has assured my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that in this recruitment exercise the Commission will follow the principles for public sector pay that we are developing with the Chair of the Senior Salaries Pay Review Body.

Council Housing

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were attributed to each banding allocation on the choice-based lettings scheme in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency,  (b) each local authority area in the East of England and  (c) England (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) on the latest date for which information is available.

Ian Austin: This information is not collected centrally.

Council Housing: Debts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the amount of historic debt remaining on local authority housing.

John Healey: The assumed housing debt, the subsidy capital financing requirement, for each authority is calculated annually by my Department using data supplied by the local authorities themselves on their Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Subsidy base data forms. The information is published, after consultation, in annual HRA Subsidy Determinations. The 2010-11 Determination is available on the Communities and Local Government website at this address:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/hradetermination201011

Council Tax

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average council tax bill on a band D home  (a) was in 1997-98 and  (b) will be in 2010-11 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2010 prices.

Barbara Follett: The average band D council tax in England in 1997-98 was £688 and will be £1,439 in 2010-11. The figure for 1997-98, in real terms based on April 2009 prices, is £931.
	It is not possible to express this figure in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.

Council Tax

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average band D fire precept on council tax bills was in  (a) England and  (b) each individual local authority in (i) 1998-99 and (ii) 2010-11 in (A) cash terms and (B) real terms in 2010 prices.

Barbara Follett: I have today placed in the Library of the House, a table showing the average band D council tax precept collected by billing authorities on behalf of fire authorities in 1998-99 and to be collected in 2010-11. Figures for 1998-99 at April 2009 prices are also shown. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available. All the figures are shown in £ sterling.
	Data are only shown for those authorities that collected, or will collect, a precept on behalf of the fire authority responsible for their area in either 1998-99 or in 2010-11. From 1 April 2004 combined fire authorities in shire areas became major precepting authorities, having previously been financed by payments from county and unitary councils in their area. Where an authority is not listed this is because the fire service is still run directly by the county council, and so they do not levy a separate fire precept on the billing authority.
	In 1998-99 London authorities separately reported the band D council tax precept they collected on behalf of the London fire brigade. In 2010-11 this could not be separately identified from the general GLA precept.

Crown Estates: Fire Services

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons there is a separate fire safety inspection regime for Crown premises; and whether he plans to create a single unified regime.

Shahid Malik: The separate fire safety inspection regime reflects the different way in which the Crown is treated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1541), and in particular the fact that the enforcement provisions of the order do not apply to the Crown. The Fire Precautions Act 1971, which preceded the 2005 order, made a similar distinction. The Government have no plans to create a single unified regime.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not keep records of complaints received regarding the operation of its website.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department redesigned its website in August 2007. For information relating to the costs of this redesign, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 264W.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on maintaining its Flickr channel in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on maintaining its YouTube channel in the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: The corporate YouTube channel is maintained as part of the routine business of the Department's web team alongside other social media channels. There is no budget assigned to this channel.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on maintaining its Twitter feed in the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) on 14 October 2009,  Official Report, column 966W.

Departmental Legislation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010,  Official Report, column 953W, on departmental legislation, for what reasons each substantive piece of uncommenced legislation has not been commenced.

Barbara Follett: The information requested, where it is held centrally, is provided in the following table. Section 314 and schedule 15 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are fully in force and not partially commenced as stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 1 March 2010,  Official Report, column 953W. The remaining information requested is not held by the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Legislation  Explanation 
			 Local Government Act 2003: Section 68 This amendment would remove the requirement for the place of religious worship to be registered under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855. The amendment was intended to cater for any repeal of the 1855 Act, which may have happened as part of the legislation on civil partnerships. To date, there has been no repeal of the 1855 Act, so my Department has no current plans to bring the section into force 
			 Local Government Act 2003: Section 69 Before the power could be removed, properties with prescribed rateable values were moved to standard rating assessments. This has now been completed, and there are no properties remaining on which the Secretary of State has prescribed a rateable value. However, the final step of removing the power to prescribe has not yet been carried forward 
			 Local Government Act 2003: Section 90 Section 80ZA of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 is fully in force. Subsection 90(4) of the Local Government Act 2003, which amends section 141(8) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, allowing amounts of housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy payable to the Secretary of State to be set off against other amounts payable by him, has not yet been commenced. We are not currently aware of any circumstances indicating that use of this power would be appropriate. There are no proposals to commence the power at present 
			 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 1 to 9 The Duty to Promote Democracy is important and we want to ensure that its introduction has a positive and proactive response from local government given the likely costs involved in implementing it effectively. We have therefore been looking at when the duty should be implemented. We have concluded that given the current economic situation implementation of the duty should be considered as part of the next Spending Review 
			 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 10 to 22 The Commencement Order (210 No. 881) relating to the petitions duty was made on 19 March 2010 
			 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 34 to 36 Ministers said in the House that we would consult on regulations imposing restrictions or conditions on the use of the mutual insurance power by best value authorities and also on guidance. Following consultation it will be necessary to commence the mutual insurance provisions in the Act (section 148(2)(b)) 
			 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 37 to 54 Ministers said in the House that we would consult on the content of proposed regulations defining qualifying entities. Following consultation it will be necessary to commence the audit provisions in the Act (section 148(2)(b)) 
			 Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009: Sections 138 to 145 The commencement date for Construction Contract provisions in part 8 is dependent on the revision of the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills issued a consultation document on amendments to the scheme on 25 March 2010. The draft regulations will be approved by resolution of each House of Parliament. This will give the construction industry sufficient time to prepare for the changes being made by part 8 
			 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002: Sections 121, 122 (partially), 123, 124 and Schedule 8 Attempts to implement these provisions led to the identification of significant workability issues: following public consultation in 2009, a summary of responses is to be published shortly, indicating that there are no current plans to proceed with implementation of these provisions 
			 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002: Sections 152 (partially), 154, 156 (partially), 157 (partially) and Schedule 10 (partially); and, Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Section 303 and Schedule 12 The Government remain committed to implementing these provisions. Work is in progress with stakeholders to develop the regulations to give effect to these provisions with a target date of October 2010 
			 Housing Act 2004: Section 265 and Schedules 15 (partially), 16 (partially) Section 265 and schedule 15 give the Secretary of State, or where appropriate the National Assembly for Wales, powers to make incidental and consequential provisions to the Act as he considers appropriate. Therefore, these provisions would only be commenced if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to make incidental and consequential provisions to the Act. Section 266 and schedule 16 repeal provisions in other enactments. Two repeals in schedule 16 have not been commenced. These relate to the London Building Acts amendment Act 1939, sections 35(1)(c)(i) and 36(1) (repealing the words or sleep) and the Building Act 1984 (section 72(6)(a). These changes were rendered unnecessary by other legislation. There are two other repeals in the Health Services Commissioners Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 which are the responsibility of the Welsh Ministers 
			 Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 4 (partially), 19 (partially), 31, 32 (partially), 33 (partially), 35, 56 and Schedule 8 (partially), 57 (partially), 58 (partially) covering the Homes and Communities Agency and Sections 60-63, 64 (partially), 68-71 (partially), 73-80 (partially), 94, 95 to 98 (partially), 106 to 111, 112 to 113 (partially), 115, 116 to 117 (partially), 118, 119 (partially), 120 to 126, 127 (partially), 128 to 130, 131 (partially), 132 to 143, 144 to 145 (partially), 146 to 173, 174 (partially), 175 to 191, 198 (partially), 199 to 101, 102 (partially), 203 to 211, 212 (partially), 213, 214 to 215 (partially), 217 to 227, 228 (partially), 229 to 233, 234 (partially), 235 to 239, 240 (partially), 241 to 243, 244 (partially), 245 to 274, 275 to 276 (partially), 277, 278 and Schedule 9 (partially) Covering the Regulation of Social Housing The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 is currently being implemented by the Government. The provisions relating to the establishment of the Homes and Communities Agency and those relating to the regulation of Social Housing take effect from 1 April 2010 
			 Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 279 to 293 and Schedule 10 The Government will review the effectiveness of the sustainability certificates in home information pack (mandatory requirement since May 2008) in giving buyers information on how sustainable houses are and will make decisions on commencing the HR Act 2008 powers in due course 
			 Housing and Regeneration Act 2008: Sections 294, 299 and Schedule 11 (partially), 303 and Schedule 12 (partially), 314 and 15 (partially), 316 (partially), 318, 321 and Schedule 16 (partially) The Government remain committed to implementing the remaining provisions of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Statutory instruments will be laid as soon as parliamentary time is available

Departmental Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time staff of each (i) sex, (ii) ethnic group and (ii) disability were recruited to work in his Department's headquarters in (A) each financial year since 2004-05 and (B) 2009-10.

Barbara Follett: The Department publishes information on the diversity of its workforce, including recruitment data, in its annual Workforce Diversity Data Report. Copies of the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 reports have been placed in the Library of the House. The 2008-09 report has not yet been published.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 24 March 2010, on operational efficiency, whether the £200 million of efficiency savings announced will be in addition to the £500 million of savings identified in the pre-Budget report.

Barbara Follett: The £200 million contribution to operational efficiency and Smarter Government savings are in addition to the £500 million announced at 2009 pre-Budget report. The £200 million of savings is my Department's contribution towards £11 billion savings that are being made across Government. The £11 billion of savings will help halve the deficit over four years and protect front-line priorities.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to which programmes the £500 million of savings identified in the Pre-Budget Report will apply; and whether this sum includes savings from the  (a) New Deal for Communities Fund,  (b) Working Neighbourhoods Fund,  (c) Local Enterprise Growth Initiative,  (d) Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme and  (e) Housing and Planning Delivery Grant.

Barbara Follett: The Public Value Programme, launched at Budget 2008, has been conducting demanding value for money reviews across at least 50 per cent. of each Department's budget. On the basis of the early findings of the programme, the 2009 pre-Budget report announced £5 billion of savings by 2012-13 through cutting lower value or lower priority spend. CLG's contribution to this figure was £500 million. Budget 2010 announces further details of these savings, including:
	Improved targeting of housing growth and regeneration funding, saving £340 million: including £40 million by concluding the new deal for communities, and a further £300 million from rationalising regional development agency regeneration spending, and programmes including the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant.
	Saving at least £35 million in housing benefit costs; ending smaller Communities and Local Government (CLG) funded time-limited communities programmes, saving £25 million; and rationalising other smaller CLG programmes, saving a total of £160 million.

Fire Services: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents the London Fire Brigade have attended in the London borough of Havering in each year since 1997.

Shahid Malik: The number of incidents attended by the London Fire Brigade by borough is readily available for periods from April 1999, thus data are shown for years since 2000.
	
		
			  Incidents attended in the London Borough of Havering by the London Fire Brigade, 2000-09 
			   Number of incidents 
			 2000 3,076 
			 2001 3,487 
			 2002 3,313 
			 2003 3,983 
			 2004 3,084 
			 2005 3,279 
			 2006 3,245 
			 2007 2,779 
			 2008 2,489 
			 2009 2,570 
			  Source: London Fire Brigade

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Assistant Regional Minister for the North West has  (a) been invited to and  (b) attended meetings with the Government Office for the North West in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The Assistant Regional Minister for the North West is invited to attend meetings with the Government Office for the North West as appropriate.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be provided in management and maintenance grants and major repairs allowance in the Housing Revenue Account determination settlement for 2010.

John Healey: The expenditure allowances, based upon assumed stock levels, in the HRA subsidy determination 2010-11 are maintenance £1.22 billion; management £2.10 billion; and major repairs £1.27 billion.

Housing: Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on  (a) travel and  (b) accommodation for (i) Ministers and (ii) officials attending the MIPIM International Property conference in (A) 2007, (B) 2008 and (C) 2009.

Barbara Follett: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which commissioners have been appointed to the Infrastructure Planning Commission to date; and what criteria he used in deciding on each appointment.

John Healey: 26 commissioners, including the Chair and two Deputy Chairs have been appointed to the Infrastructure Planning Commission, the majority of whom are on call-off contracts. These appointments have been made following an open and transparent recruitment process and represent a range of expertise. A list of the appointees with attached biographies has been placed in the Library of the House, along with details of the selection criteria employed. The IPC website also contains details of all those appointed.
	We also anticipate announcing the appointment of a further 13 commissioners, again on a call-off contract basis, shortly.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Shahid Malik: The Government are working to build a fairer, more equal society, where a person's chances and opportunities in life are determined solely by their talent and effort-not by their class, gender, religion or race. We are tackling race inequality by enforcing the strong legal framework, promoting clear leadership in public bodies and focusing work on race across Government.
	To mark the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, on 22 March the British embassy in Bucharest hosted an event for NGOs, civil society and the media on anti-discrimination and tackling racism. Ambassador Robin Barnett and the Romanian Minister for Education both spoke at this event.
	On 19 March, ambassador Peter Gooderham, the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, attended a screening of the film Colour Blind hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations in Geneva. During the subsequent panel discussion, ambassador Gooderham reaffirmed our commitment to tackle racism both in the UK and internationally.

Multiple Occupation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his plans to introduce a definition of houses in multiple occupation into the Use Classes Order, what estimate he has made of the number of additional planning applications likely to result annually.

John Healey: We have estimated that there could be an average of 8,500 additional planning applications per year.

Non-Domestic Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in England in  (a) real terms in 2010 prices and  (b) cash terms in each year since 1997-98 for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.
	The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.
	
		
			   Cash (£)  Real terms (£) 
			 1997-98 6,796 9,196 
			 1998-99 7,016 9,126 
			 1999-2000 6,998 8,959 
			 2000-01 8,264 10,275 
			 2001-02 8,714 10,647 
			 2002-03 9,071 10,919 
			 2003-04 9,137 10,665 
			 2004-05 9,301 10,593 
			 2005-06 9,997 11,035 
			 2006-07 10,275 11,059 
			 2007-08 10,330 10,637 
			 2008-09 11,274 11,142 
			 2009-10 12,145 12,145 
		
	
	The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available.
	Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties and hence the actual rates bills vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

Non-Domestic Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in each billing authority in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 in (i) real terms in 2010 prices and (ii) cash terms.

Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing, for 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year.
	The data are taken from the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) budget forms completed annually by all billing authorities in England.
	Data for 2010-11 are not yet available.
	Comparisons with previous years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. In addition, the number of hereditaments in an authority may change from year to year. Also comparisons between authorities may not be valid as the data for an authority may be affected by a small number of large hereditaments.

Non-Domestic Rates

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill in England  (a) was in 1997-98,  (b) was in 2009-10 and  (c) will be in 2010-11 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2010 prices.

Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 and 2009-10, figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.
	The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.
	
		
			   Cash (£)  Real terms (£) 
			 1997-98 6,796 9,196 
			 2009-10 12,145 12,145 
		
	
	The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available.
	Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence the actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of Crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

Non-Domestic Rates

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill was in each Government Office region in each year since 1997-98; and what it is expected to be in each region in 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, regional figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East of England  London  South East  South West  England 
			 1997-98 5,501 5,215 5,381 5,716 5,686 7,026 10,057 7,208 7,087 6,796 
			 1998-99 5,978 5,589 5,869 6,142 6,250 7,125 10,433 7,759 5,295 7,016 
			 1999-2000 6,159 5,770 6,005 6,251 6,487 7,080 9,792 7,796 5,412 6,998 
			 2000-01 6,968 6,825 6,954 7,237 7,588 8,096 12,033 9,212 6,332 8,264 
			 2001-02 7,305 7,273 7,433 7,670 7,756 8,476 12,842 9,705 6,570 8,714 
			 2002-03 7,498 7,646 7,664 7,846 8,003 8,685 13,753 10,045 6,658 9,071 
			 2003-04 7,518 7,708 7,623 7,893 8,055 8,620 14,124 10,053 6,614 9,137 
			 2004-05 7,701 7,793 7,773 7,955 8,192 8,740 14,484 10,252 6,662 9,301 
			 2005-06 8,367 8,086 8,317 8,477 8,672 9,575 15,705 11,124 7,195 9,997 
			 2006-07 8,704 8,496 8,479 9,021 8,906 10,003 15,886 11,192 7,538 10,275 
			 2007-08 8,941 8,719 8,501 9,189 9,031 9,999 15,733 11,210 7,655 10,330 
			 2008-09 9,452 9,473 9,288 9,946 9,743 10,804 17,482 12,325 8,279 11,274 
			 2009-10 10,157 10,159 10,009 10,610 10,602 11,519 19,120 13,190 8,816 12,145 
		
	
	The data are taken from NNDR returns submitted by billing authorities.
	Comparisons across regions and years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the figures for the years around 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local lists, transfers of crown properties to local lists and the adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation to take account of losses from appeals. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

Non-Domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 605W, on non-domestic rates, what projection has been made of the  (a) change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from rateable value appeals and  (b) the amount of fees payable by those appealing against their rateable value in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: No projection has been made of the change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from appeals. However, for the purpose of modelling the 2010 transitional relief scheme, my Department has made an assumption about the total reduction in RV as a result of appeals.
	The assumptions used for this modelling are detailed in the consultation document titled The transitional arrangements for the non-domestic rating revaluation 2010 in England. The methodology and assumptions can be found on page 49 of the consultation. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nndrrevaluation2010
	There are no fees payable to valuation officers for making proposals challenging rateable values. Nor are there hearing fees payable should the proposal become an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England. Many ratepayers choose to employ the services of a professional representative to handle their rating liability. This is a personal matter between ratepayer and representative.

Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) address,  (b) 2005 rateable value and  (c) 2010 rateable value is of each hereditament with a special category code of public houses/pub restaurants (national scheme).

Barbara Follett: The Valuation Office Agency has published the current 2005 and draft 2010 Rating Lists on the internet at:
	www.voa.gov.uk
	Search facilities within the site (using the 'Agent' access, which is open to any individual) allows the identification of properties within billing authorities by SCAT code. Public houses/pub restaurants (national scheme) are identified by SCAT 226.

Piers: Repairs and Maintenance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent restoring seafront piers in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected by this Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Public Houses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with pub landlords on the effects of the recession on their businesses;
	(2)  whether he has visited any pubs on official business in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what assistance his Department has provided to pubs during the recession.

John Healey: Since the Prime Minister asked me to lead work across Government to help and support Britain's community pubs in January, I have made a number of visits to pubs and had various discussions with landlords. I have also had discussions with cross-party groups and other organisations directly concerned with the pub industry.
	On 19 March 2010, I published the Government's package of measures to support community pubs. Our plans fall into three main categories:
	Business support
	Industry standards and consumer choice
	Community and local authority action.
	Further details on our package of measures can be found on our website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1511255
	In addition to this package of measures described above, Planning Policy Statement 4: 'Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth' (published in December 2009) provides policy tools for local authorities to take into account the importance of pubs to the local community when a planning application is made that would result in its loss and enables them to refuse planning permission where people's day to day needs are not safeguarded.

Public Sector

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place a copy of the final report from each Total Place pilot in the Library.

Barbara Follett: The reports of the 13 pilot areas have been published online and are available through the Total Place website at:
	http://www.localleadership.gov.uk/totalplace/news/pilots-final-reports/

Tenant Services Authority: Pay

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff work in the Tenant Services Authority communications team; and what the cost to the public purse was of that team on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ian Austin: The Tenant Services Authority employs 3.7 full-time equivalent staff in its press office and public affairs teams. The total cost to the public purse of employing these staff in the 12 months since TSA was established on 1 December 2008 was £171,300.

Unitary Councils

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have  (a) applied for and  (b) been accepted for unitary status in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1997, 26 proposals for unitary structures were submitted in January 2007 following the Invitation to Councils in England issued in October 2006. A further Invitation for unitary structures in Bedfordshire was issued in November 2007 and one proposal was received in response to it. From these proposals, nine unitary councils were established on 1 April 2009, and orders creating a further two on 1 April 2011, Exeter and Ipswich, have now been made following their approval by Parliament.

World Urban Forum

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who represented his Department at the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro in March 2010; and whether his Department allocated funding to that forum.

Rosie Winterton: No one from the Department for Communities and Local Government attended this year's World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro; nor was any money allocated to the event.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer questions  (a) 323248,  (b) 323249 and  (c) 323251 on the MIPIM international property conference, tabled by the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield on 16 March 2010.

Barbara Follett: I have now replied to the hon. Member's questions.

CABINET OFFICE

Business: Cardiff

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses have  (a) closed and  (b) opened in (i) Cardiff Central constituency and (ii) Cardiff in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small businesses have (a) closed and (b) opened in (i) Cardiff Central constituency and (ii) Cardiff in each of the last five years.
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	Information on the number of enterprise deaths by parliamentary constituency is only available from 2005 onwards. The table below contains the latest statistics available on small enterprise birth and deaths in Cardiff over the past five years.
	
		
			  Count of enterprise birth and deaths for Cardiff unitary authority and Cardiff, Central parliamentary constituency from 2004-08 with less than 50 employment (small) 
			   Births  Deaths 
			   Cardiff  Cardiff, Central  Cardiff  Cardiff, Central 
			 2004 1,370 385 1,155 n/a 
			 2005 1,310 390 1,040 325 
			 2006 1,135 335 1,020 295 
			 2007 1,085 300 1,055 295 
			 2008 1,120 345 960 290 
			  Note: A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment

Departmental Private Detectives

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 15 January 2009,  Official Report, column 873W, on private detectives, how much her Department spent on hiring or commissioning individuals from the panel of independent investigators in each of the last five years.

Tessa Jowell: My Department has incurred no costs in hiring or commissioning individuals from the panel of independent investigators.

Government Communications Review

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which recommendations made in the report of the Phillis Review on Government communication have not been implemented to date.

Tessa Jowell: Government communications have changed fundamentally over the past five years. Substantial progress has been made towards implementing the findings of the Phillis Review and all the key recommendations have been taken forward, except for Recommendation 10.1 calling for on camera lobby briefings, which was not implemented. Briefings are off the camera but on the record, a record of the briefings is available on the PM's website the same day.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Bullying

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many complaints against special advisers alleging bullying or harassment have been made by civil servants since 1997.

Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information for the civil service. This information may be held by the individual employing Departments.
	The civil service has a zero tolerance policy on bullying and harassment.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether her Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative Party and  (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry), on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Union of Good

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what investigations the Charity Commission has carried out into links between humanitarian charities based in the UK and the Union of Good in the last 12 months.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 29 March 2010:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission I have been asked to respond to your written question on what investigations we have carried out into links between humanitarian charities based in the UK and the Union for Good in the last twelve months.
	In 2009 we published a report of our statutory inquiry into the Palestinians Relief and Development Fund, registered charity number 1040094 (known as Interpal). Among other issues, the inquiry considered the relationship between this charity and the Union for Good, which we understand to be a coalition of UK and overseas organisations working with Palestinians and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The inquiry concluded that the charity's membership of the Union for Good was not appropriate, and directed the charity to take a number of actions, including to disassociate itself from membership of the Union for Good.
	At the time this inquiry report was published, the Charity Commission was aware of concerns that had been raised that other charities, registered in England and Wales, were said to be members of the Union for Good. We investigated these concerns and concluded that, on the evidence then before us, this was not the case.
	The Commission is continuing to monitor Interpal's compliance with the requirements of the Commission.
	I will arrange for a copy of the statement of results of the inquiry on the charity Interpal to placed in the Library of the House. We would be very happy to meet you to discuss this area of our work further.
	I hope this is helpful.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he discussed the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020 with representatives of other governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 29 March 2010
	My right hon. Friend did not discuss the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. with representatives of other Governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Carbon Emissions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK of a reduction in the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 29 March 2010
	In July last year we published a Low Carbon Transition Plan and an accompanying analytical annex that set out how we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet our carbon budgets and the cost to the UK of doing so, consistent with reducing emissions by 34 per cent. by 2020. Were we to move to a higher target and set new carbon budgets consistent with that, then the Climate Change Act, requires that we publish our proposals and policies for delivering those emissions reductions as soon as is practicable following the setting of new budgets in legislation.

Climate Change: Publicity

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on advertising aimed at raising awareness of climate change among  (a) all people and  (b) people under the age of 18 since its establishment.

Joan Ruddock: Act on CO2 advertising is aimed at adults.
	Invoiced media costs for the climate literacy advertising strand of the Act on CO2 campaign are £4.78 million, inclusive of fees and exclusive of VAT.
	The Department has not bought advertising for the Act on CO2 campaign-or any other campaign activity-specifically aimed at under-18s.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Joan Ruddock: The Department provides accommodation, at no cost, for gym facilities in 3 Whitehall Place. The actual gym facilities and equipment are provided and managed by the DEFRA Sports and Social Association.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken since its inception.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question 320471 on the cost of refurbishment on 22 March 2010,  Official Report, column 101W, which included the cost of interior design. This cost cannot be separately identified. In addition, the cost of interior design in relation to internal communications work was £38,404 in 2008-09 and £54,522 in 2009-10.

Departmental Consultants

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much  (a) his Department and  (b) each other body for which his Department is responsible spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since 2005.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008. In the financial year 2008-09 the Department spent £7,277,000 on external consultants and advisers.
	Additionally the bodies for which the Department is responsible spent a total of £14,720,000 on external consultants and advisers.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) disciplinary and  (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each year since its inception; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department's staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff.

Joan Ruddock: No records are collated centrally regarding how many procedures have been initiated in the Department since its creation in October 2008.
	We are unable to provide the number of staff dismissed (all reasons) under section 40 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices.

Joan Ruddock: The cost of employing press and media officers from April 2009 to January 2010 (latest figure available) was £407,000.
	DECC was created in October 2008.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: None.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 796W.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo since its inception; and what those items were.

Joan Ruddock: The spend on promotional items is:
	(a) £2,454, a combined order of a mug for each member of staff as part of our departmental launch and low cost branded pens for internal and external use
	(b) £450, a further set of mugs to promote DECC's new values.
	As well as having a promotional aspect these items were produced for sustainability reasons in support of our departmental remit. The pens were produced from recycled materials and the mugs used to reduce the use of disposable cardboard cups.
	We have deliberately kept use of such promotional materials to a minimum.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through external recruitment in the last year for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: DECC recruited 51 people through external recruitment in the last year.

Energy Supply

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of changes in the carbon price set under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on private sector investment in energy supply infrastructure.

Joan Ruddock: No assessment has been made on this particular issue. The Government have recently published the initial findings of their Energy Market Assessment, which recognises the carbon price and its long-term certainty is one of many, and not the most significant factor, that affects investment decisions in electricity generation. Gas price volatility and its relationship to electricity price is a key driver, as well as, uncertainty around future electricity demand and the impact of renewables on wholesale electricity prices.
	Despite these uncertainties and the current low level of demand, high levels of investment are currently taking place. National Grid's data show that 20 GW are currently under construction or have been granted planning consent.
	The next stage of our Energy Markets Assessment work will be a detailed assessment of a range of options for reforming the electricity market to meet our objectives beyond 2020, assessing them against cost-effectiveness, affordability and investor certainty. Government will consult on proposals in autumn 2010 and publish a White Paper in 2011.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account will be taken of the full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of each fuel type in identifying low carbon generation technologies which will be eligible for specific support under the five groups of options referred to in paragraphs 4.7 to 4.48 of his Department's report on Energy Market Assessment.

David Kidney: As set out in the DECC publication Valuation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for appraisal and evaluation, which can be found on the DECC website, the emissions associated with imports are not included in the UK's national inventory.
	Greenhouse gases emitted elsewhere in Europe which form part of full life cycle emissions for fuels used in the UK, have to meet their costs through the EU Emissions Trading System.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has made an estimate of the effect on the level of carbon dioxide emissions that would result from the installation of room thermostats in homes where they are not presently installed.

Joan Ruddock: The Department keeps abreast of published research relevant to this question as well as carrying out its own field trials of energy saving measures in homes. Heating controls in homes can save energy and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions if they allow the occupants to maintain comfort by not heating the home (or part of the home) when this is not needed. However, recent field evidence indicates that these controls make little difference and may not save energy or reduce emissions as they are not used as intended. We will be working with the industry and researchers to understand how heating controls could be better designed and deployed to deliver energy savings.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Springfields

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 March 2010,  Official Report, column 42WS, on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Springfields Site), what insurance arrangements will apply under the new arrangements for management of the plant.

David Kidney: Under the new arrangements for the management of the site, with effect from 1 April 2010 the insurance arrangements for the Springfields site will be a matter for Springfields Fuels Ltd. and its owner. Under the agreements between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Springfields Fuels Ltd. the latter is required to have a range of insurances including Nuclear Installations Act 1965 liability insurance. No insurance arrangements will be made by either the Department for Energy and Climate Change or the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Nuclear Power: Public Consultation

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of holding the public meeting on his Department's group on documents on nuclear justification at the Marriott Hotel, Marble Arch on 19 January 2010; whether his Department made provision for the reimbursement of participants for travel costs; what assessment his Department made of the comparative cost of holding that meeting at his Department; whether he has made an assessment of the merits of recovering the cost of the meeting from the Nuclear Industry Association; whether he has plans for any further such meeting; and what record of that meeting  (a) was circulated to participants and  (b) he plans to post on his Department's website.

David Kidney: Further to my answers of 2 February 2010,  Official Report, column 187W, and 5 February 2010,  Official Report, column 617W; which covered most of the points in my hon. Friend's question, the final cost of the public meeting held as part of the consultation on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's proposed Regulatory Justification decisions on new nuclear power stations was £12,951. This included the cost of travel for some delegates. A Government venue was not chosen on this occasion as a hotel offered more flexible options for staging the event. The meeting was part of the consultation and it is therefore proper that the Government meet the cost. The consultation being over, we have no current plans for any further such meeting. A transcript of the meeting was circulated to delegates and placed on the Department's website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/reg_just_cons/regjustcons.aspx

Renewable Energy: Scotland

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to renewable energy projects in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what funding allocations have been made for future years.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 29 March 2010
	Since 2005, £10.5 million has been awarded to renewable energy projects in Scotland spread across the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	Funding is not 'allocated' to Scotland as the majority of renewable energy funding schemes operated by DECC are open across the UK on a competitive basis.
	HMG also provides funding through other delivery partners (for example, the Carbon Trust) and for research, development and demonstration projects which are not yet operational.

Uranium: Imports

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much uranium has been imported from each country for civilian uses in each year since 1997.

David Kidney: Uranium comes in many different forms. Providing a list of all forms, from all countries, would be prohibitively expensive.

Warm Front Scheme: Greater Manchester

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in  (a) the City of Manchester and  (b) Manchester Central constituency have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since its inception.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 29 March 2010
	The following tables show the number of households in the City of Manchester and Constituency of Manchester Central which have received assistance from the Warm Front Scheme(1) since its inception.
	(1) The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme which begun in 1991 was rebranded to the Warm Front Scheme in 2000.
	
		
			  City of Manchester 
			   Households assisted 
			 2000-01 1,518 
			 2001-02 5,835 
			 2002-03 3,180 
			 2003-04 2,075 
			 2004-05 1,838 
			 2005-06 1,697 
			 2006-07 2,353 
			 2007-08 2,945 
			 2008-09 2,496 
			 2009-10(1) 2,302 
			 (1) Up to the 28 February 2010. 
		
	
	
		
			  Constituency of Manchester Central 
			   Households assisted 
			 2000-01 281 
			 2001-02 1,609 
			 2002-03 750 
			 2003-04 357 
			 2004-05 329 
			 2005-06 312 
			 2006-07 414 
			 2007-08 478 
			 2008-09 412 
			 2009-10(1) 653 
			 (1) Up to the 28 February 2010.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Middle East Peace Process

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of prospects for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Ivan Lewis: We welcome the Quartet's determination to move swiftly to proximity talks addressing issues of substance. We continue to press both sides to show the courage, commitment and compromise needed to make real progress.

Overseas Operations: Financing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of exchange rate movements on the work of his Department.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 53WS.

Overseas Operations: Financing

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of exchange rate movements on his Department's overseas activities.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 53WS.

Belize: Economic Partnership Agreements

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the participation of Belize in EU economic partnership agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Belize is party to the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in October 2008 between the EU and 15 Caribbean states. This was the first EU regional trade agreement and is an excellent opportunity for increased competitiveness, development and economic integration in the region. We have not received representations about Belize's participation.

Moldova: EU Membership

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an official visit to Moldova to discuss its prospects for joining the EU.

Chris Bryant: I have no current plans to visit Moldova. We do actively encourage Moldova's closer integration with the EU and are providing expert assistance to Moldova as they negotiate a new Association Agreement.

Gaza Blockade

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities and his EU counterparts on the effects on the region of the blockade on Gaza.

Ivan Lewis: The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton reported to the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 March on her recent visit to Gaza. The EU has made clear its concerns regarding the humanitarian situation and called for an immediate and unconditional opening of crossings.

Pakistan: Extradition

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on extradition matters.

Ivan Lewis: I have had regular contact with the Government of Pakistan and discussed a range of issues important to both countries. Although I have had no recent discussions specifically on extradition matters, UK officials undertake regular meetings with their counterparts on extradition.

Tibet

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights record of the Government of China, with particular reference to Tibet.

Ivan Lewis: Our annual human rights report outlines our assessment of the current situation in Tibet. We remain very concerned about human rights there. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated these concerns, and the need for meaningful autonomy for Tibetan people, during his recent visit to China. This was also a key focus of our human rights dialogue.

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the High Commission in Pakistan has taken to obtain consular access to Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Our high commission in Islamabad has continued to make representations to the national and provincial authorities in Pakistan with regard to gaining consular access to Mr. Sheikh. The most recent diplomatic notes requesting access were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2009 and April 2010. High level requests for consular access to Mr. Sheikh have also been made by the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister with responsibility for consular matters, my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) during a visit to Pakistan in February 2009 and, along with other cases, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in a letter to Pakistani Foreign Minster Qureshi on 7 December 2009 which was delivered by our high commissioner. To date we have not received consular access to Mr Sheikh.

British Nationals Abroad: Homicide

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training his Department's staff receive on providing support and assistance to the families of British victims of murder abroad.

Chris Bryant: All front line consular staff abroad and in the UK are trained in the procedures they must follow when helping the family and friends of a British national who has died abroad. Particular attention is paid to the special circumstances affecting the family and friends of murder victims. Both their knowledge of what help we can provide and the skills they must use when dealing with individuals in difficult circumstances are tested to ensure all staff meet the required standard.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many smoking shelters his Department has built for its staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Chris Bryant: Smoking shelters have been installed over the last five years on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK estate as follows:
	
		
			   Smoking shelters installed 
			 2005-06 None 
			 2006-07 Two shelters for Hanslope Park purchased and installed at an approximate cost of £3,500 each 
			 2007-08 None 
			 2008-09 None purchased but one existing shelter at Hanslope Park moved to more appropriate location at a cost of approximately £1,000 
			 2009-10 Four shelters purchased and installed at Hanslope Park, two at a cost of £5,765 each, one at a cost of £4,693 and one at a cost of £4,681 
		
	
	Shelters have been installed in line with the FCO's Smoking Policy which permits smoking in designated areas only, away from buildings.
	The provision of this information for the overseas estate could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is fully committed to the Government Food Procurement Initiative. Within the UK we have engaged a catering contractor who is committed to animal welfare and is working with suppliers, clients and animal welfare organisations to promote the use of farm assurance schemes which achieve best practises in animal welfare. They fully endorse the Five Freedoms as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. They have met with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Food and Compassion In World Farming to discuss ways they can improve animal welfare.
	Where economically possible, our catering contractor purchases its products from approved free range suppliers. All fresh eggs supplied are free range.
	While free range supplies are not always economically viable, all suppliers hold Farm Assurance Accreditation. To obtain this award our approved suppliers have to meet objectives such as farm animal management, environment and hygiene management, feed composition, housing and handling facilities, medicines and veterinary treatments and transport of livestock.
	This information refers to the contracted catering service in the UK only. Provision of information globally could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is fully committed to the Government Food Procurement Initiative. Within the UK we have engaged a Catering Contractor who is committed to animal welfare and is working with suppliers, clients and animal welfare organisations to promote the use of farm assurance schemes which achieve best practises in animal welfare. They fully endorse the Five Freedoms as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. They have met with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Food and Compassion In World Farming to discuss ways they can improve animal welfare.
	Where economically possible, our catering contractor purchases its products from approved free range suppliers. All suppliers hold Farm Assurance Accreditation. To obtain this award our approved suppliers have to meet objectives such as farm animal management, environment and hygiene management, feed composition, housing and handling facilities, medicines and veterinary treatments and transport of livestock.
	This information refers to the contracted catering service in the UK only. Provision of information globally could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Passports

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the conclusions of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of 24 March 2010, if he will review the provisions of his Department's contract with Abtran to provide a customer enquiry service in respect of passports handled on behalf of his Department; what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the report in respect of the adequacy of arrangements for handling passport applications by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 30 March 2010
	 We accept the findings of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of 24 March 2010.
	We have re-tendered the telephone passport inquiry handling contract and a new commercial partner is now in place to handle customer inquiries; we no longer use Abtran. Customers contact the new provider who will escalate their inquiry to the passport issuing post where necessary.
	We agree that the service that was provided to the customer in early 2009 fell considerably short of what the customer should have expected. We had previously written to the applicant to apologise and will be writing again. We are arranging for prompt financial settlement and a further consolatory payment to be made as recommended in the ombudsman's report.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s passport operation is going through a period of considerable change in advance of integration with the Identity and Passport Service on 1 April 2011. We are committed to doing all we can to minimise the impact on customers as we move to a more cost effective and secure passport operation. The report highlighted weaknesses in our processes in our consulates in Paris and Amsterdam, and within consular directorate in the FCO. These have been reviewed and changes to procedures have been and are being implemented. This includes improvements to our public facing communication to ensure customers are kept informed in a timely, clear and consistent manner. Customer interests remain at the forefront of our analysis and our highest priority.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated for human rights programmes in financial year 2009-10.

Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) integrates human rights work across its objectives. This means that funding for human rights can be given through numerous programmes.
	The FCO holds the Strategic Programme Fund for Human Rights and Democracy dedicated specifically to supporting human rights projects. In 2009-10, this fund allocated approximately £5.8 million to human rights and democracy projects around the world. Work was funded in support of equality, strengthening civil society, freedom of expression, abolition of torture and the death penalty, among other issues.
	The FCO's 2009-10 programmes that fund human rights projects where these help to realise their core objectives include:
	Strategic Programme Fund for Reuniting Europe (total programme value: £5.8 million);
	Strategic Programme Fund for Counter-Terrorism and Radicalisation: £40 million;
	Bilateral Programme Budgets: £27.5 million; and
	the tri-departmental (FCO, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence) Conflict Pool (£171 million in 2009-10) that funds conflict prevention and stabilisation work also benefited human rights projects/objectives.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on his Department's overseas activities of recent exchange rate movements.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 53WS.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Chris Bryant: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department.

Chris Bryant: Measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an essential feature of the Department's protective security controls. These controls reflect the standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF) issued by Cabinet Office and available online at:
	www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/spf.aspx
	It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific controls as this could undermine their effectiveness.

India: Overseas Aid

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to allocate additional funding for work to promote access to justice in Orissa state, India.

Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens' rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process.
	The pilot project funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to promote access to justice in Orissa ran until 31 March 2010. We will now assess its impact and consider appropriate follow-up action such as additional funding. We will also continue to monitor progress on delivery of access to justice for the victims of violence in Orissa.

India: Overseas Aid

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the pilot project funded by his Department to promote access to justice in Orissa state, India.

Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens' rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 January 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton regarding Mr. H. Zadron.

David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 21 January 2010 with regard to Mr H. H. Zadron, transferred from the Home Office.

David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March.

Nepal: Religious Freedom

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to encourage the Government of Nepal to enshrine protections for religious freedom consistent with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in that country's new constitution.

Ivan Lewis: We regularly raise with the Government and political parties of Nepal the importance of ensuring that the new constitution is fully in line with Nepal's commitments under international human rights treaties. The Constituent Assembly Committee for Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles has proposed that the new Nepalese constitution should provide that no person
	should convert a person from one religion to another
	which would be in contravention of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The constitution drafting process remains ongoing. We will continue to raise protections for religious freedom with the Government and political parties of Nepal.

Palestinians: Economic Situation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the level of support given by the Government of Israel to the economy in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	Although there are no specific reports on the level of support given by Israel to improve the economy in the West Bank, regular updates provided by the Office of the Quartet Representative and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs give some information.
	Israel has relaxed a number of restrictions on access in the last few months, including increased opening hours at certain crossing points, the removal of some earth mounds, and allowing Arab Israelis to visit the West Bank city of Jenin. The pilot project to keep the Allenby bridge crossing into Jordan open until midnight is expected to continue.
	Such moves have complemented the significant levels of donor support to drive growth in the West Bank economy. Despite these improvements, movement and access into and within the West Bank remains seriously restricted, and further easing is essential to help the Palestinian economy grow.

St. Helena: Wrecks

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the effects on the health and safety of residents of St. Helena caused by oil leaks from RFA Darkdale after its sinking in James Bay; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Responsibility for the health and safety of residents of St. Helena rests with the Government of St. Helena who hold the requested information.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a mechanism to monitor progress in the talks on Tibet between the Government of China and the Dalai Lama.

Ivan Lewis: We, alongside our EU counterparts, will continue to monitor progress on the dialogue. We urge all sides to maintain dialogue in good faith. This is the only way to achieving lasting stability and prosperity in Tibet.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010,  Official Report, column 116W, on Western Sahara: human rights, what matters relating to human rights were included in Christopher Ross's briefing of the Security Council on 18 February 2010.

Ivan Lewis: Ambassador Ross's briefing to the UN Security Council of 18 February included some background on a recent exchange of allegations between the parties over human rights.
	The issue of whether to include human rights monitoring in the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara mandate was raised by Security Council members during the discussions that followed Ross's briefing.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request HM Ambassador in Rabat to raise with the Moroccan authorities the case of Rachid Sghir, a Saharawi human rights activist.

Ivan Lewis: This is the first inquiry we have received about the case of Rachid Sghir. UK based media reporting alleges he was mistreated by the Moroccan police after speaking to the BBC. We have had no further reporting on this case.
	Officials at our embassy in Rabat will continue to monitor the human rights situation in the disputed territory of Western Sahara and raise our concerns with the Moroccan authorities through our regular dialogue and in partnership with our EU colleagues.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Michael Foster: In the last two years the Department for International Development has installed voltage optimisers in both of our UK offices. There are two 1,250 kVa units in our London office (installed March 2008), and a 560 kVa unit in our East Kilbride office (installed March 2009).
	Analysis of electricity consumption in the London office indicated an annual 14.2 per cent. reduction in total electricity consumption, which was largely attributable to this equipment. Early analysis shows that there has been a reduction in electricity use in our East Kilbride office, of between 5.2 per cent. and 6.4 per cent.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold central records on the cost of individual press officers and this information could not be gathered for the years specified without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has received no such complaints during the last three years.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 806W, on departmental internet.

Developing Countries: Roads

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on road safety projects in developing countries in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Haiti: Earthquakes

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what equipment was used by UK fire and rescue personnel deployed in Haiti after the recent earthquake; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1415W on Haiti: Earthquakes.

Haiti: Earthquakes

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who carried out the four airlifts of relief supplies to Haiti on behalf of his Department following the earthquake in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) followed an emergency tender process with two suppliers before using Air Charter Service to procure aircraft for the airlift of relief supplies to Haiti.

Haiti: Earthquakes

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to each  (a) multi-national and  (b) UK non-governmental organisation for the purpose of providing assistance in Haiti.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1415W, on Haiti: Earthquakes.

Haiti: Earthquakes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many British firefighters took part in the recent relief efforts in Haiti.

Michael Foster: 64 firefighters from the UK fire and rescue service deployed to Haiti to take part in search and rescue efforts, along with two search dogs. They pulled three people alive from the rubble.

India: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's work in Orissa state, India, on  (a) inter-communal relations and  (b) the socio-economic status of all religious, caste, tribal and linguistic groups in the area.

Michael Foster: The purpose of DFID's aid to Orissa is to reduce poverty in the state. We have not, therefore, carried out an assessment of the impact of our programmes on inter-communal relations. However, all our programmes have a clear focus on supporting marginalised groups to gain greater access to development and economic opportunities.
	DFID's support to the Government of Orissa aims to improve health and nutritional outcomes, support improved governance and improve the incomes and livelihoods of the poor. We regularly review our programmes to track their impact on Adivasis and Dalits, compared to the general population. Evidence shows that our work is having an impact. For example, the Orissa Tribal Empowerment Programme has benefited more than 50,000 Dalit and Adivasi households: 40 per cent. of these report a 50 per cent. increase in income, and 80 per cent. show an increase in food security and livelihood assets.

Kenya: Family Planning

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate reproductive health and access to reproductive rights in Kenya, with particular reference to family planning and safe abortion services; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's (DFID) Essential Health Services programme in Kenya is improving the quality of maternal and neonatal health services for 2.2 million poor Kenyans in rural areas. The support has increased the number of births at which a skilled birth attendant was present from 23 per cent. to 32 per cent. between 2006 and 2009.
	DFID is supporting advocacy for safe motherhood and safe abortion through Kenya White Ribbon Alliance. We have helped increase access to modern contraceptive methods through the social marketing of family planning commodities such as oral contraceptives. DFID distributed 195 million condoms between 2002 and 2009. DFID support from 2009 to 2015 will avert 770,800 unwanted pregnancies in Kenya.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative Party and  (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not investigated the cost of policies presented by the Conservative party, the Liberal Democrats or any other Opposition party.

Overseas Aid: Maternity Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the additional £100 million to cut maternal deaths which the Government committed to at the Women Deliver conference in October 2007 has been provided to the United Nations Population Fund.

Michael Foster: All of the £100 million announced at the Women Deliver conference in 2007 was committed to the United Nations Population fund (UNFPA) Global Reproductive Health Commodity Security Programme. The programme supports governments in Africa and in South Asia to provide more contraception services and better health care and advice for girls, women and men who really need it. To date £25 million has been transferred to UNFPA as per the agreed payment schedule.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on alleged restrictions imposed by Hamas on the activities of humanitarian non-governmental organisations operating in Gaza.

Michael Foster: Department for International Development (DFID) officials are in regular contact with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the UN and other donors about this issue. We assess that international NGOs and other humanitarian actors are generally able to carry out humanitarian activities, and that they have been able to successfully rebuff isolated attempts by elements of Hamas to interfere with aid delivery. However, we remain concerned that increasingly close scrutiny and accumulation of minor restrictions on NGO activity by Hamas will have the effect of impeding ongoing humanitarian aid. We will continue to support efforts by humanitarian agencies to protect their ability to assist Gazan civilians on the basis of need.

St Helena: Wrecks

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will assist the St Helena government in removing the fuel, oil and ammunition from RFA Darkdale after its sinking in James Bay, St Helena; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides financial and technical assistance to the St. Helena Government to allow it to manage its own affairs. We have recently agreed a budget of up to £26.15 million for St. Helena for financial year 2010-11. This did not include any additional assistance for removing the fuel, oil and ammunition from RFA Darkdale.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the humanitarian situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) receives regular reports from the United Nations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We are particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and southern Sudan.
	In Darfur, despite recent progress on peace talks between the Government and rebel groups, fighting has continued between the Sudanese armed forces and a faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army rebel group in the Jebel Mara region. This will have humanitarian consequences for civilians. We continue to urge both sides to immediately cease hostilities and allow access to the area by humanitarian agencies.
	In southern Sudan inter-tribal violence which displaced 390,000 people during 2009 has continued. Poor rains and high prices are fuelling food shortages. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) report that 1.6 million people face acute food shortages in 2010, and a total of 4.3 million people will be food insecure this year.
	The UK is the largest European bilateral donor to Sudan, providing some £50 million in humanitarian support this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Welfare: Arrests

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests there have been for offences in connection with animal welfare in North Shropshire since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The information on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	The offence in connection with animal welfare is not a notifiable offence and does not form part of this collection.

Asylum: Standards

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was between a person claiming asylum on arrival in the UK and a final decision being made on their application in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The public service agreement (PSA) Delivery Agreement 3, Indicator 2 refers to the reduction in the time to conclusion of asylum application. The measure is to ensure a target percentage of cases should be resolved within six months.
	The method of reporting against the target is based on the performance of the specific monthly cohort of cases reaching six months. Hence all reporting is done against a six-month timeframe. A cohort is specified as those new applications received between 1 and 31 of each month.
	The conclusion measurement requires applications to be granted asylum or some form of leave to remain in the UK, allowed at appeal or removed within 182 days (six months) to be counted as concluded.
	Performance against the targets has been published in National Statistics as follows:
	61 per cent. of new applications received in June 2009 were concluded in six months by the end of December 2009.
	Published information is not available in relation to conclusion of applications in timescales other than six months.

British Nationality

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reinstate the telephone line for people to request British nationality application forms.

Phil Woolas: The contract for despatching applications forms in response to telephone requests expires on 31 March 2010. There are no plans to renew it. Forms and guides are available from the UK Border Agency website.

British Nationality: Assessments

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of each  (a) age group and  (b) nationality passed the British citizenship test in each month of 2009.

Phil Woolas: The Knowledge of Life (KOL) requirement was introduced in November 2005 for citizenship applications. In April 2007, the Home Office extended the KOL test to those applying for settlement in the UK. In 2009, 193,645 applications for British citizenship were made.
	A breakdown of this information has been placed in the House Library.

Burglary: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of burglaries in Shropshire.

Alan Campbell: Tackling burglary is the responsibility of local community safety partnerships.
	During 2009-10 the Government have supported the work of community safety partnerships by investing £15 million in the Securing Homes: Action Against Burglary programme to prevent and tackle burglary across England and Wales. The elements of the programme which included Shropshire included:
	free burglary information and advice packs for victims of burglary and their immediate neighbours;
	a campaign to raise awareness of how to avoid becoming a victim of distraction burglary;
	new partnerships with the National Union of Students and Age UK to target advice appropriately at those most at risk of or concerned about burglary.
	The Home Office also ran a national publicity campaign Don't Advertise Your Stuff to Thieves earlier this year drawing the public's attention to the simple steps they could take to avoid becoming victims of burglary.
	We are also keeping pressure on prolific and persistent burglars through offender-based interventions such as the Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) and the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) programme and Integrated Offender Management (IOM). PPO and DIP are in place in every local authority area in England and Wales and IOM approaches are being adopted across the country.
	Shropshire are currently in the process of setting up a local IOM pilot.

Community Safety Accreditation Schemes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which local authority and police force areas  (a) local authority employees and  (b) private companies have been authorised to issue fixed penalty notices under the Community Safety Accreditation scheme.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office only holds information on police forces that operate the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS). The Home Office does not collect information on the local authority areas in which CSAS operates. Nor does it collect information on the local authorities and private companies in which police forces have granted employees the power to issue fixed penalty notices under CSAS. The decision as to which employees are granted powers is for individual police forces that operate CSAS.
	However, the Home Office conducted a national audit of CSAS in 2009 which found that the following police forces had designated accredited persons with the power to issue fixed penalty notices. Avon and Somerset constabulary and British Transport police have designated the power to issue penalty notices for disorder, but not fixed penalty notices.
	Cheshire
	Cleveland
	Devon and Cornwall
	Durham
	Gwent
	Hampshire
	Hertfordshire
	Kent
	Lancashire
	Leicestershire
	Norfolk
	Northamptonshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Suffolk
	Warwickshire
	West Mercia
	West Midlands

Convictions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 19, (iii) between 20 and 25, (iv) between 26 and 30, (v) between 31 and 40, (vi) between 41 and 50, (vii) between 51 and 60 and (viii) over 60 years have been (A) cautioned, (B) proceeded against and (C) issued with a penalty notice for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in each police force area in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: Information showing the number of offenders cautioned for offences of being drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008 (latest available) can be found in Tables one and two. The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for these offences are given in Tables three and four. The number of offenders issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) can be viewed in Tables 5 and 6.
	Cautions, court proceedings, and PND data for 2009 are planned for publication in the autumn 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of males cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly( 1) , by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 2, 3, 4) 
			   Age 
			  Police force area  10-15  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61 and over  All ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 3 25 19 16 18 7 4 1 93 
			 Bedfordshire - - 3 3 4 4 2 1 17 
			 Cheshire 10 23 8 5 9 4 1 2 62 
			 City of London - 1 5 5 5 1 - - 17 
			 Cleveland 5 13 3 6 1 1 2 2 33 
			 Cumbria 4 45 19 10 5 4 1 2 90 
			 Derbyshire 2 8 5 3 3 1 1 - 23 
			 Devon and Cornwall 16 76 62 23 56 44 17 8 302 
			 Dorset 4 10 11 3 - 2 - - 30 
			 Durham 4 27 14 4 8 4 - - 61 
			 Essex 3 18 13 9 13 7 1 3 67 
			 Gloucestershire - 12 8 3 1 1 2 - 27 
			 Greater Manchester 5 9 12 7 9 10 5 4 61 
			 Hampshire 5 33 19 6 11 5 3 - 82 
			 Hertfordshire 2 5 6 2 4 4 3 - 26 
			 Humberside 1 5 4 1 1 1 - - 13 
			 Kent 6 21 6 12 12 7 3 1 68 
			 Lancashire 15 87 54 33 42 19 9 9 268 
			 Leicestershire - 1 - - - 1 - - 2 
			 Merseyside 9 52 103 45 51 32 6 6 304 
			 Metropolitan Police 2 116 470 263 374 220 87 36 1,568 
			 Norfolk - 2 - - - - - - 2 
			 North Yorkshire 4 23 11 4 8 6 3 4 63 
			 Northamptonshire - 5 13 3 9 5 - 2 37 
			 Northumbria 58 174 131 73 74 53 18 17 598 
			 South Yorkshire 15 10 7 4 5 2 - 1 44 
			 Staffordshire 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 - 13 
			 Suffolk - 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 13 
			 Surrey 1 2 5 3 9 3 4 1 28 
			 Sussex 12 32 35 23 40 32 24 5 203 
			 Thames Valley 2 12 13 7 11 8 4 2 59 
			 Warwickshire - - 2 - - - - - 2 
			 West Mercia 4 48 63 30 29 13 8 1 196 
			 West Midlands 7 62 84 29 34 14 8 4 242 
			 West Yorkshire 27 117 118 48 81 50 22 5 468 
			 Wiltshire - 2 1 - - - - - 3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 4 17 11 5 10 8 3 2 60 
			 Gwent 10 71 63 23 30 19 3 3 222 
			 North Wales 8 18 14 8 8 5 8 2 71 
			 South Wales 6 14 11 7 3 4 1 - 46 
			 Total 256 1,202 1,430 729 982 605 255 125 5,584 
			 (1) Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises.  Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12;  Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour.  Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. (2 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3 )From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These are included in the totals. (4 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  2 :  N umber of  females  cautioned for offences of drunk and disorderly( 1) , by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 2, 3, 4) 
			   Age 
			  Police force area  10-15  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61 and over  All ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 5 11 3 2 2 3 2 - 28 
			 Bedfordshire - 1 - 1 - - - - 2 
			 Cheshire 2 13 2 2 4 3 2 - 28 
			 Cleveland 4 7 1 - 4 1 1 - 18 
			 Cumbria 9 27 8 1 2 2 - - 49 
			 Derbyshire 8 7 1 - 5 1 - - 22 
			 Devon and Cornwall 17 39 25 16 21 17 11 - 146 
			 Dorset 3 3 2 4 - 2 - - 14 
			 Durham 11 14 5 4 6 1 1 - 42 
			 Essex 1 11 4 3 3 7 - - 29 
			 Gloucestershire - 3 3 - 4 - - - 10 
			 Greater Manchester 10 10 2 1 3 3 1 - 30 
			 Hampshire 7 13 7 3 10 5 3 - 48 
			 Hertfordshire 1 - - - 2 1 1 - 5 
			 Humberside 1 1 - - 1 - - - 3 
			 Kent 9 6 3 2 1 3 1 1 26 
			 Lancashire 23 34 27 9 14 15 4 1 127 
			 Leicestershire 2 - - - 1 - - - 3 
			 Merseyside 8 10 9 6 9 4 1 1 48 
			 Metropolitan Police 3 26 76 38 61 44 11 3 262 
			 Norfolk - 1 - - - - - - 1 
			 North Yorkshire 6 7 8 4 4 4 - - 33 
			 Northamptonshire - 3 1 - 2 - - - 6 
			 Northumbria 68 80 28 10 28 13 1 2 230 
			 South Yorkshire 9 3 1 - - 1 - - 14 
			 Staffordshire 1 2 - - - 2 - - 5 
			 Suffolk 1 1 - 1 2 3 - - 8 
			 Surrey - 4 4 - - 2 - - 10 
			 Sussex 16 15 5 1 10 10 5 3 65 
			 Thames Valley 5 4 5 1 3 2 1 - 21 
			 West Mercia 6 16 16 3 8 11 1 - 61 
			 West Midlands 12 18 15 9 11 10 1 - 76 
			 West Yorkshire 38 62 37 21 35 21 2 2 218 
			 Wiltshire 1 1 - - - - - - 2 
			 Dyfed-Powys 3 5 4 2 1 1 - - 16 
			 Gwent 7 16 19 9 8 10 3 1 73 
			 North Wales 6 11 5 1 3 2 1 - 29 
			 South Wales 5 6 5 2 - 5 2 2 27 
			 Total 308 491 331 156 268 209 56 16 1,835 
			 (1) Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises.  Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12;  Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour.  Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. (2 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3 )From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These are included in the totals. (4 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3:  N umber of males proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly( 1) , by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 2, 3, 4) 
			   Age 
			  Police force area  10-15  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61 and over  all ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 3 27 44 19 48 33 33 23 230 
			 Bedfordshire - 5 9 9 20 5 9 1 58 
			 Cambridgeshire - 5 12 12 44 49 16 12 150 
			 Cheshire 11 55 59 39 54 60 15 4 297 
			 City of London - 1 7 5 8 10 3 1 35 
			 Cleveland 9 49 75 30 51 33 11 - 258 
			 Cumbria 10 84 92 34 60 45 11 10 346 
			 Derbyshire 10 42 60 28 54 36 14 11 255 
			 Devon and Cornwall 11 104 140 112 204 165 66 14 816 
			 Dorset 4 19 32 19 39 22 10 5 150 
			 Durham 14 64 39 18 28 22 13 - 198 
			 Essex 3 27 19 19 40 37 11 2 158 
			 Gloucestershire 2 10 18 10 19 7 3 - 69 
			 Greater Manchester 18 105 153 79 123 89 20 6 593 
			 Hampshire 3 67 139 40 77 71 17 12 426 
			 Hertfordshire - 7 15 4 21 16 13 3 79 
			 Humberside 2 10 15 10 17 8 1 - 63 
			 Kent 15 52 69 30 86 89 27 3 371 
			 Lancashire 30 189 226 106 180 136 37 9 913 
			 Leicestershire - 10 7 2 11 12 1 - 43 
			 Lincolnshire - 14 23 6 31 20 3 1 98 
			 Merseyside 14 164 324 136 387 290 70 25 1,410 
			 Metropolitan Police 5 48 138 111 308 252 89 24 975 
			 Norfolk 5 31 53 16 60 35 13 1 214 
			 North Yorkshire 7 42 83 46 60 54 27 4 323 
			 Northamptonshire 1 9 17 5 14 9 3 1 59 
			 Northumbria 70 675 916 382 470 314 126 20 2,973 
			 Nottinghamshire 5 25 43 37 69 35 7 2 223 
			 South Yorkshire 16 91 196 108 150 103 28 15 707 
			 Staffordshire 1 49 48 31 39 55 12 5 240 
			 Suffolk - 3 4 4 8 3 6 1 29 
			 Surrey 1 13 33 31 47 43 13 4 185 
			 Sussex 10 70 74 54 108 89 33 15 453 
			 Thames Valley 3 25 50 10 29 54 21 4 196 
			 Warwickshire - 17 22 6 18 8 3 1 75 
			 West Mercia 4 89 90 50 49 40 14 5 341 
			 West Midlands 8 129 267 162 303 206 80 15 1,170 
			 West Yorkshire 27 196 318 177 278 219 88 21 1,324 
			 Wiltshire 2 6 8 7 16 35 6 10 90 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1 21 25 21 33 24 11 9 145 
			 Gwent 4 49 70 37 56 43 12 6 277 
			 North Wales 7 41 51 19 42 25 14 - 199 
			 South Wales - 27 37 25 24 24 22 5 164 
			 Total 336 2,766 4,120 2,106 3,783 2,925 1,032 310 17,378 
			 (1 )Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises.  Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12;  Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour.  Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. (2 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are use.  4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  4 :  N umber of  fe males proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunk and disorderly( 1) , by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 2, 3, 4) 
			   Age 
			  Police force area  10-15  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61 and over  all ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 3 8 2 3 7 2 1 1 27 
			 Bedfordshire 1 2 - - 1 2 1 - 7 
			 Cambridgeshire - 1 1 1 6 8 3 - 20 
			 Cheshire 3 9 7 8 25 15 - 2 69 
			 City of London - - 1 2 2 1 - - 6 
			 Cleveland 2 18 11 9 23 4 1 1 69 
			 Cumbria 6 30 14 6 25 13 5 - 99 
			 Derbyshire 3 9 9 3 3 5 1 - 33 
			 Devon and Cornwall 8 30 22 22 24 32 4 - 142 
			 Dorset - 3 6 - 5 6 - - 20 
			 Durham 5 18 12 3 8 5 1 - 52 
			 Essex 2 3 8 4 8 10 1 - 36 
			 Gloucestershire - 1 2 1 1 2 - - 7 
			 Greater Manchester 3 9 16 9 14 13 1 1 66 
			 Hampshire 8 15 9 6 18 8 7 - 71 
			 Hertfordshire - 2 - 1 1 1 6 - 11 
			 Humberside 1 4 3 1 2 3 - 1 15 
			 Kent 7 15 6 6 17 22 5 - 78 
			 Lancashire 15 69 20 21 43 31 7 - 206 
			 Leicestershire - 1 - 1 2 2 - - 6 
			 Lincolnshire - - 3 - 3 3 - - 9 
			 Merseyside 4 41 36 30 82 62 14 - 269 
			 Metropolitan Police 2 6 8 9 16 14 7 - 62 
			 Norfolk - 2 10 2 7 7 - - 28 
			 North Yorkshire 3 17 12 4 23 13 4 - 76 
			 Northamptonshire - 3 1 - 2 2 - - 8 
			 Northumbria 65 145 106 65 98 43 28 4 554 
			 Nottinghamshire - 7 6 5 5 9 - - 32 
			 South Yorkshire 14 21 25 23 22 33 4 - 142 
			 Staffordshire 2 6 9 3 2 26 3 1 52 
			 Suffolk - 1 1 2 - 1 - - 5 
			 Surrey - 5 3 1 3 15 1 3 31 
			 Sussex 3 16 7 9 20 23 3 2 83 
			 Thames Valley - 6 11 2 6 5 2 - 32 
			 Warwickshire 1 2 2 1 2 1 - - 9 
			 West Mercia 2 11 8 3 8 17 1 - 50 
			 West Midlands 5 30 36 21 27 28 5 - 152 
			 West Yorkshire 19 42 45 29 60 39 9 1 244 
			 Wiltshire - 2 - - 2 4 3 - 11 
			 Dyfed-Powys - 3 6 2 5 14 1 - 31 
			 Gwent 3 8 7 2 8 12 11 - 51 
			 North Wales 1 11 9 3 10 10 2 - 46 
			 South Wales 2 9 5 3 3 4 1 - 27 
			 Total 193 641 505 326 649 570 143 17 3,044 
			 (1 )Includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premises.  Licensing Act 1872 Sec 12;  Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour.  Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec.91. (2 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are use.  4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5:  N umber of penalty notices for disorder issued to males for offences of drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Age 
			  Police Force Area  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61  over  All ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 52 82 25 32 20 6 2 219 
			 Bedfordshire 21 49 20 29 19 4 2 144 
			 British Transport police 59 147 123 195 127 53 14 718 
			 Cambridgeshire 62 95 67 77 44 14 6 365 
			 Cheshire 100 211 87 87 42 20 3 550 
			 Cleveland 257 463 163 174 99 33 9 1,198 
			 Cumbria 69 139 55 70 36 13 7 389 
			 Derbyshire 157 191 77 85 35 17 5 567 
			 Devon and Cornwall 207 317 135 100 61 23 10 853 
			 Dorset 53 74 28 24 12 6 - 197 
			 Durham 192 295 103 99 57 12 5 763 
			 Dyfed Powys 41 56 34 34 22 13 4 204 
			 Essex 50 119 56 56 33 14 4 332 
			 Gloucestershire 26 42 20 21 6 7 2 124 
			 Greater Manchester 130 223 106 108 73 23 7 670 
			 Gwent 62 80 28 23 8 2 - 203 
			 Hampshire 119 168 52 58 51 7 4 459 
			 Hertfordshire 61 71 27 25 21 9 4 218 
			 Humberside 112 181 74 75 47 5 3 497 
			 Kent 393 642 264 320 167 50 24 1,860 
			 Lancashire 1,116 1,458 574 666 390 100 27 4,331 
			 Leicestershire 49 120 63 61 30 10 1 334 
			 Lincolnshire 11 34 12 18 10 2 - 87 
			 London, City of 5 51 34 29 22 1 1 143 
			 Merseyside 843 1,325 522 618 439 120 47 3,914 
			 Metropolitan 321 823 525 700 400 138 54 2,961 
			 Norfolk 71 153 59 80 30 7 3 403 
			 North Wales 128 182 74 70 51 13 6 524 
			 North Yorkshire 179 247 95 96 58 14 5 694 
			 Northamptonshire 56 74 40 40 20 3 1 234 
			 Northumbria 887 1,493 619 587 349 98 23 4,056 
			 Nottinghamshire 120 183 72 74 32 8 - 489 
			 South Wales 37 36 21 31 18 5 2 150 
			 South Yorkshire 559 805 306 322 174 39 14 2,219 
			 Staffordshire 102 144 67 73 44 14 4 448 
			 Suffolk 12 10 5 1 4 1 2 35 
			 Surrey 45 66 39 39 43 20 2 254 
			 Sussex 211 367 145 147 85 32 9 996 
			 Thames Valley 66 123 38 50 25 15 5 322 
			 Warwickshire 24 21 16 12 8 4 1 86 
			 West Mercia 125 173 54 49 25 2 4 432 
			 West Midlands 646 991 431 394 259 73 17 2,811 
			 West Yorkshire 309 476 212 191 107 37 6 1,338 
			 Wiltshire 68 85 40 45 29 8 4 279 
			 Total 8,213 13,085 5,607 6,085 3,632 1,095 353 38,070 
			 (1 )The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )Centrally available PND data are published at age 16 and over.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  6 :  N umber of penalty notices for disorder issued to  fe males for offences of drunk and disorderly, by age group and police force area, England and Wales, 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Age 
			  Police Force Area  16-19  20-25  26-30  31-40  41-50  51-60  61  over  All ages 
			 Avon and Somerset 12 7 4 4 3 2 1 33 
			 Bedfordshire 3 3 2 5 2 2 1 18 
			 British Transport police 18 15 20 23 16 2 - 94 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 12 7 11 14 2 - 50 
			 Cheshire 14 37 32 21 15 4 1 124 
			 Cleveland 78 90 40 59 32 10 - 309 
			 Cumbria 20 27 7 22 14 4 - 94 
			 Derbyshire 36 28 18 22 14 7 - 125 
			 Devon and Cornwall 39 50 15 43 25 4 1 177 
			 Dorset 10 8 6 3 5 1 - 33 
			 Durham 38 54 28 31 18 4 - 173 
			 Dyfed Powys 6 11 7 7 6 5 - 42 
			 Essex 9 19 4 15 13 6 - 66 
			 Gloucestershire 4 6 4 3 6 1 - 24 
			 Greater Manchester 45 44 21 22 24 4 - 160 
			 Gwent 7 7 0 6 5 - - 25 
			 Hampshire 27 14 4 20 5 3 2 75 
			 Hertfordshire 8 17 6 7 5 2 - 45 
			 Humberside 20 29 7 19 7 5 1 88 
			 Kent 89 86 38 60 68 16 1 358 
			 Lancashire 257 261 97 207 110 22 4 958 
			 Leicestershire 8 18 9 9 7 1 - 52 
			 Lincolnshire 5 4 3 5 1 - - 18 
			 London, City of 0 4 7 3 1 - - 15 
			 Merseyside 212 230 116 192 119 23 3 895 
			 Metropolitan 64 121 75 126 92 17 5 500 
			 Norfolk 13 16 9 9 9 2 - 58 
			 North Wales 28 27 14 15 15 6 1 106 
			 North Yorkshire 32 46 22 23 15 2 - 140 
			 Northamptonshire 12 7 3 7 6 - - 35 
			 Northumbria 238 339 133 177 104 32 3 1,026 
			 Nottinghamshire 19 25 5 17 16 3 1 86 
			 South Wales 5 8 4 8 1 1 - 27 
			 South Yorkshire 112 132 70 77 53 11 - 455 
			 Staffordshire 19 25 15 15 15 5 - 94 
			 Suffolk 1 1 0 1 2 2 - 7 
			 Surrey 15 12 5 11 12 1 1 57 
			 Sussex 47 53 20 41 21 12 1 195 
			 Thames Valley 7 8 4 12 9 - - 40 
			 Warwickshire 3 5 2 2 2 - - 14 
			 West Mercia 17 17 7 11 6 3 - 61 
			 West Midlands 123 132 59 78 50 12 3 457 
			 West Yorkshire 80 97 33 52 46 12 - 320 
			 Wiltshire 18 8 8 8 7 1 - 50 
			 Total 1,822 2,160 990 1,509 1,016 252 30 7,779 
			 (1 )The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was implemented in all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )Centrally available PND data are published at age 16 and over.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	continued

Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) drug dealers,  (b) people dealing in counterfeit currency and  (c) people dealing in counterfeit goods in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in respect of a previous question on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 997W.

Crime Prevention

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into the relationship between levels of spending on police and crime rates; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Home Office has supported a number of research projects concerning the impact of police resourcing and deployment on crime rates. These have included the impact of police force funding, undertaken in collaboration with Professor Ben Vollaard of the university of Tilburg (Tilburg Law and Economics Centre Discussion Paper DP 2009-012), the impact of the Street Crime Initiative, undertaken by Professor Steve Machin (and Olivier Marie) of the London School of Economics (LSE Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 680), and the effect of police redeployment following the 7/7 terror attacks, also by Professor Machin (and colleagues) (LSE Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 852). These research projects have found that increases in police resources, both generally and targeted, have been associated with reductions in crime rates, in line with the recent international academic literature on the topic.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: In common with many organisations my Department provides various facilities to support staff fitness. Information on the cost of these facilities is not held separately.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department provides accommodation for gym facilities at 2 Marsham street, but does not provide a cash subsidy for staff.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: My Department's accounts do not itemise this level of information.

Departmental Contracts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance on his Department's policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department has no policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs and has no plans to issue any guidance to companies bidding for contracts let by the Department.

Departmental Data Protection

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to each  (a) database and  (b) ICT system run by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Department does not comment on issues relating to possible breaches of the UK's national security.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.

Phil Woolas: The cost of press officers employed between March 2009 and February 2010 was £1,795,888.92. The Home Office do not employ media officers and do not hold records of press or media officers employed in the financial year 1996-97; our records do not go back that far.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department and its agencies incurred expenditure on advertising via Google Adwords in the latest year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office and its agencies have spent a total of £401,724 on advertising via Google Adwords in 2009-10.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office has received 1,053 pieces of feedback from site users since 2008. This comprises a range of comment such as requests for further information, queries about content, reports of broken links and suggestions for new content. We do not have the information to be able to breakdown this feedback to identify specific complaints regarding difficulties in using the website.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office website,
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk
	last underwent a major redesign in 2005. It subsequently underwent a minor redesign in 2008 to incorporate new corporate branding following the machinery of government change to create Ministry of Justice.
	Costs spent on design consultants for the external website in the last three years were:
	
		
			   Spent (£) 
			 2007-08 50,000 
			 2008-09 0 
			 2009-10 0

Departmental Legal Costs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent in (a) legal fees and  (b) compensation on legal cases concerning remuneration of its employees in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office (excluding its agencies) does not maintain a central record of how much has been spent on legal fees or compensation specifically relating to legal cases concerning remuneration of its employees. Therefore the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of full-time equivalent staff this represented.

Phil Woolas: All permanent staff of the Home Office should receive a performance review each year. In 2008-09 just over 24,000 staff received a review. Staff are assessed against their objectives and, where improvement in performance is needed, that will be reflected in their development plan. In 2008-09 and 2007-08 just over 150 staff were marked as unsatisfactory overall. But in addition many staff receiving satisfactory markings would also have specific areas for improvement.
	No accurate figures are available for earlier years. And it is not possible to relate the numbers leaving in any year directly to the numbers marked as unsatisfactory.
	
		
			  Total number of unsatisfactory performance assessment markings 
			   HO HQ and UKBA  IPS  CRB 
			 2004-05 (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 2005-06 (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 2006-07 (1)- 20 (1)- 
			 2007-08 139 15 (1)- 
			 2008-09 132 19 (1)- 
			 (1) No information available.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were.

Phil Woolas: The amount spent on promotional items carrying the Departments and its agencies branding and logo in the last five years is as follows:
	 Home Office and UK Border Agency
	The requested information is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Figures for the Identity and Passport Agency and Criminal Records Bureau are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Identity and Passport Agency 
			Amount (£) 
			 2008 Promotional stationary for the UK Passport Service for Five Nations Passport Issuers Conference 2,437 
			 2009 Idsmart pens and plastic oyster card wallets 3,927 
			 2010 General Register Office mousemats 1,779.62 
		
	
	
		
			  Criminal Records Bureau 
			Amount (£) 
			 28 March 2006 1,200 black pens with CRB contact information 445.00 
			 10 May 2006 1,200 black pens with CRB contact information 445.00 
			 4 September 2008 30 crystal pyramids and 1,000 black pens with CRB logo 839.00 
			 10 November 2008 30 crystal pyramids and 1,000 black pens with CRB logo 865.60 
			 19 March 2009 4,000 black pens and 4,000 a4 card folders with CRB logo 4,883.00 
			 27 January 2010 1,200 desk calendars with CRB logo 997.50 
			 27 January 2010 CRB image bank costs 475.00

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what  (a) the cost and  (b) purpose of each such event was.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office systems (and those of its agencies) do not separately identify the cost of individual hospitality events from overall hospitality costs. This information could be provided at only disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 521W, what the name is of each underspent project; and what the monetary value was of the underspend in each subsequently transferred to support the Draft Legislative Programme for 2009-10.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office transferred £40 million resource and £5 million capital in the winter supplementary estimate 2009-10 for Building Britain's Future. The transfer was made from emerging underspends in the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism.

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office has effective security arrangements in place to guard against theft. A range of measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an integral feature of the Department's broader security risk mitigation measures. These controls reflect the minimum standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF), issued by the Cabinet Office and available online at:
	www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/spf.aspx
	It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific measures as to do so would undermine their effectiveness.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The Home Department seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost.
	Disproportionate cost is determined via a disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The current DCT is £800, announced in Parliament by the Treasury on 20 January 2010.

DNA: Databases

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the familial searches of the national DNA database have resulted in a prosecution since the creation of that database.

Alan Johnson: Familial searches of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) are only carried out in cases of serious violent crime. They are undertaken on a case by case basis and only after authorisation from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) officer for the police force requesting the service. They are used to identify a suspect who does not have a DNA profile on the NDNAD but who may have a close relative who does have a profile on the NDNAD.
	Data provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) indicate that, since 2003, 33 individual suspects have been identified subsequent to a familial search of the NDNAD which suggested a possible relative with a subject profile on the NDNAD. Of these 33 suspects, five were deceased. The remaining 28 suspects were prosecuted, of whom 27 were convicted.

Drugs: Misuse

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 159W, on drugs: misuse, when the result of the commissioned research on the impact of khat will be available; and  (a) how and  (b) when the focus groups will be set up.

Alan Campbell: The Department commissioned two studies in 2009 to explore the social harms associated with khat use. The first of these is a qualitative study exploring perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use; the availability of treatment services provided for khat users; and perceptions of the appropriate role of Government intervention. The second is a review of the national and international literature examining the evidence on the social harms associated with khat and the impact of legislation in countries which have legislated against khat use and supply. The work is now approaching completion and the Department aims to publish the findings of these studies later in 2010.
	For the qualitative study, a total of 10 focus groups were conducted with members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities in Sheffield, London and Cardiff. An additional focus with members of the general public was held in each of the focus group site areas. The composition of focus groups was men-only, women-only or young people-only. The focus groups were conducted in a mix of mother-tongue and English depending on the needs of the group.

Entry Clearances

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the operation of the hub and spoke model for the issue of visas to enter the UK.

Phil Woolas: The hub and spoke system has been rolled out gradually since June 2007. This model, which separates the collection of applications from the place where the decision is made, has enabled the UK Border Agency to improve the efficiency and consistency of its visa operation, building on its network of visa application centres as well as increasing the security and integrity of our staff and delivering customer service benefits.
	Management reviews of the impact of Hub and Spoke are undertaken at regular intervals, and assessments of hub and spoke arrangements have also been made by the independent chief inspector of UKBA. A recent internal evaluation has confirmed that hub and spoke has delivered a number of key benefits, including improvements in quality and consistence of decision making, efficiency and productivity, resilience and flexibility, and customer service.

Entry Clearances: Iraq

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many business visitor visas to the UK were issued in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Jordan to (i) Iraqi citizens and (ii) other nationals in each of the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2010
	The information is as follows:
	For 2009:
	 (a) 10
	 (b) (i) 1,220 and (ii) 3,049.
	Detailed statistics by month are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Statistics, Visit-Business visas issued 
			  Applications processed in Jordan 
			  2009  Iraqi nationals  Other nationalities 
			 January 90 188 
			 February 60 212 
			 March 120 254 
			 April 127 256 
			 May 114 330 
			 June 106 284 
			 July 150 234 
			 August 76 188 
			 September 86 230 
			 October 137 421 
			 November 108 269 
			 December 46 183 
			 Total 1,220 3,049 
		
	
	
		
			  Applications processed in Iraq 
			  2009  Total 
			 March 8 
			 June 2 
			 December 0 
			 Total 10

Entry Clearances: Iraq

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on Iraqi citizens travelling to Jordan in order to submit an application for a business visitor visa to enter the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2010
	United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) International Group receives very few direct representations in respect of Iraqi citizens who have travelled to Jordan in order to submit an application for a business visitor visa. Properly documented applications are normally resolved and a decision made, within five working days.
	Due to cost and security considerations, Ministers have agreed that UKBA will currently offer a limited visa application service in Baghdad and Erbil for certain designated categories of applicant (such as senior officials and diplomats), for those going to the UK under prime ministerial/Government sponsored initiatives and for urgent compassionate cases.
	All other Iraqi nationals-including business people-can apply for their visas outside Iraq, in Damascus, Amman, and Beirut. The current processing time for straightforward applications made at one of these posts is usually within five working days.
	UKBA International Group has recorded two recent cases of representations, from UK sponsors, regarding Iraqi citizens who would have preferred to submit their business visitor visa applications in Iraq.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were  (a) applied for by and  (b) granted to applicants from (i) India, (ii) Pakistan, (iii) Bangladesh, (iv) Sri Lanka, (v) Nepal, (vi) Malaysia and (vii) Nigeria in each of the last eight quarters.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 26 November 2010
	The information requested is given in the following table and relates to the financial year.
	Tier 4 (students) of the points based system was introduced on 31 March 2009 providing a robust system aimed at ensuring legitimate students are able to come here to access our world renowned educational facilities while protecting the route from abuse. As a result of the review of Tier 4 commissioned by the Prime Minister in November, we announced in February a balanced and targeted package of measures to further tighten the robustness of the system. Measures include, among others, raising the standard of English required to study in the UK and introducing a highly trusted sponsor scheme.
	In February we also implemented suspensions of Tier 4 applications in north India, Bangladesh and Nepal to ensure proper scrutiny of applications. We lifted the suspension for applications at degree level (and for foundation degrees) in north India at the beginning of March. The other suspensions remain in place and are being kept under review.
	
		
			   2007  2008  2009 
			   October to December  January to March  April to June  July to September  October to December  January to March  April to June  July to September 
			  Applications 
			 India 5,523 8,597 4,714 22,944 8,109 12,017 8,123 54,749 
			 Pakistan 6,387 7,581 5,647 11,447 5,613 8,094 2,515 8,532 
			 Bangladesh 2,163 3,277 2,399 3,548 1,456 2,563 1,161 11,567 
			 Sri Lanka 995 1,284 977 2,724 1,647 2,157 1,172 4,178 
			 Nepal 847 942 573 757 400 329 2,154 9,964 
			 Malaysia 1,163 747 894 5,364 1,027 501 658 5,957 
			 Nigeria 4,632 4,571 3,523 15,046 5,976 5,406 1,413 10,395 
			  
			  
			  Issued 
			 India 3,127 5,068 2,633 17,661 4,905 7,807 3,884 31,416 
			 Pakistan 1,777 2,185 1,510 4,705 1,260 1,499 1,553 4,961 
			 Bangladesh 896 1,147 758 1,492 762 1,200 979 8,249 
			 Sri Lanka 381 546 350 1,901 885 886 648 2,813 
			 Nepal 300 229 88 281 145 210 288 6,370 
			 Malaysia 1,011 691 699 4,749 1,003 462 477 5,447 
			 Nigeria 1,673 1,769 768 5,999 1,826 1,683 668 7,646 
			  Note: These data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to determine the appeal of Shaheen Kausar lodged on 19 May 2009 in Islamabad against refusal of entry clearance.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2010
	Shaheen Kausar's appeal against the refusal of her application for entry clearance was dismissed by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on 21 October 2009 (AIT reference: VA/45370/2009).

Greater Manchester

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Manchester, Gorton constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997.

Alan Johnson: Manchester, Gorton comes within the Manchester Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to one March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Manchester CSP.
	In terms of police recorded crime in the Manchester CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 18 per cent. More specifically:
	Violence against the person-down 2 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year)
	Sexual offences-down 10 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year)
	Robbery-down 43 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year)
	Burglary-down 29 per cent. (up 5 per cent. in last year)
	Offences against vehicles-down 35 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year)
	Other theft offences-down 12 per cent. (up 2 per cent. in last year)
	Criminal damage-down 20 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year)
	Drug offences-up 151 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99.
	Manchester CSP is covered by Metropolitan, North Manchester, South Manchester and Trafford basic command units, which had a total of 2,167 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 74 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 at BCU level are not available. There were 218 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP). These are now referred to as community safety partnerships (CSPs). The Manchester CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
	Neighbourhood police teams are in place and the Manchester, Gorton constituency is served by a number of such teams from the Greater Manchester police's metropolitan division. Neighbourhood policing is a crucial partnership with the public and is helping to reduce crime and enhance community confidence in the police. The visible policing presence is augmented by information on neighbourhood policing in each area which is available on the internet. None of this was in place in 1997.
	All CSPs, including Manchester, are putting in place minimum standards to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB). By tackling ASB and providing support for victims, these will help to reduce local perceptions of ASB and improve public confidence. This was not in place in 1997. In addition, before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour whereas there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Manchester is in the top 50 national priority areas for alcohol-related harm. The effects of the Department's policies on crime, antisocial behaviour, policing, and night time economy management have been consistently positive and instrumental in supporting the city centre's development as a safer, more popular and vibrant place to visit.
	Detailed and comprehensive analysis is being used by Manchester, along with specific action plans to ensure reductions in serious violent crime. The Manchester Violent Gang Board has recently been commended for their approach to the issues within Manchester and have been given a Green Flag by the Audit Commission for their work in relation to guns and gangs. Gun crime is down significantly-Greater Manchester police's Xcalibre operations have had notable success in targeting the gang culture and securing convictions against gang leaders and members. Firearms discharges have reduced in Manchester over the last three years. This is helping to improve safety in Manchester, Gorton.
	Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing domestic violence has been driven through the Home Office-led cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan. This includes the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme (Manchester gained accreditation in 2008). It also includes Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the Government's approach to identified high risk victims of domestic violence. Manchester is developing three MARACs covering all three police divisions. Victims of domestic violence are supported by independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs)-trained specialists who provide a service to victims who are at high risk of harm which have been shown to decrease victimisation. Manchester now has 10 IDVAs.
	Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing sexual violence has been driven through the delivery of the Home Office-led cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse which aims to increase access to health and support services for victims; improve the response of the criminal justice system for victims, and to prevent sexual violence in the first place.
	This has led to expanded services such as sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) and independent sexual violence advisers (ISVAs) to improve victim care. Home Office has supported the continued development of St Mary's SARC in Manchester and the development of an ISVA service at the centre.
	Manchester is a recipient of Youth Crime Action Plan funding and has rolled out a programme of initiatives designed to tackle youth crime. Manchester also receives funding from the Tackling Knives Action Programme and has engaged in a number of enforcement and educational activities to tackle and deter young people from involvement in all forms of serious youth violence. These include Safer Schools Partnerships.
	The drug treatment system in Manchester has developed by means of joint planning and commissioning of services over many years. The introduction of national drug strategy and the establishment of pooled treatment budget arrangements in 2001-02 have done much to formalise and enhance partnership working. This has resulted in the development of an integrated treatment system. Manchester has an effective drugs intervention programme (DIP).
	Manchester is achieving significant reductions in acquisitive crime, but recognises that there are still challenges, particularly in tackling issues such as domestic burglary and robbery. Robust plans are in place to tackle these. There is a real focus on student safety and Manchester has developed a Student Safety Business Model. Manchester is a Vigilance area and Safer Homes Fund area which are Home Office programmes aimed at tackling acquisitive crime, particularly burglary and robbery. Greater Manchester police's Operation Storm has had real success in recent reductions in domestic burglary in particular.
	From 1 April 2010, CSPs are required formulate and implement a strategy to reduce reoffending. One of Manchester's priorities includes reducing the offending of prolific and priority offenders and the partnership is currently exceeding the targets set in the Local Area Agreement. Manchester will shortly introduce Integrated Offender Management (IOM) based on the Greater Manchester Spotlight model and will have three co-located IOM teams covering the city. This will manage the most serious offenders including those responsible for acquisitive crime, and violent and domestic violence offences.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./

Group 4 Securicor

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions there have been with Group 4 Securicor (G4S) on the service offered by G4S Policing Solutions; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 March 2010
	The UK Border Agency has engaged in discussions with G4S about G4S Policing Solutions. Joint Immigration Crime Teams operating across the United Kingdom include a number of seconded police posts, five posts are at present being filled temporarily by non-warranted civilian investigators supplied by G4S Policing Solutions, for up to two months.
	Planning is being finalised for resourcing this function into 2010-11.

Idcardsyoudecide Website

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hits the idcardsyoudecide website has received since its launch.

Meg Hillier: There have been 5,301 page views on the website since its launch to present (28 March 2010):
	http://www.idcardsyoudecide.wordpress.com

Idcardsyoudecide Website

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much had been spent on the idcardsyoudecide  (a) website and  (b) short films on the latest date for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The cost of the website development is £8,348.50
	http://www.idcardsyoudecide.wordpress.com
	 (b) The cost of the five animations that appear on the site is £15,219

Identity Cards

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers in his Department have  (a) been issued with (i) an identity card and (ii) a biometric passport and  (b) their details on the National Identity Register.

Alan Johnson: The Identity and Passport Service holds in confidence personal information about those people who have been issued with a passport or an identity card and it would not be proper to publish whether any particular individuals have been issued with a passport or identity card with their identity details recorded on passport records or on the National Identity Register.

Identity Cards: Bus Services

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration  (a) his Department and  (b) the Identity and Passport Service has given to the use of identity cards to indicate entitlement for free local bus travel for the over-60s.

Meg Hillier: There are no current plans to use identity cards to indicate entitlement for free bus travel for the over-60s. However, an identity card is a convenient proof of age and could be used for the holder to prove that they qualify for age related services such as applying for a bus pass.

Identity Cards: Greater Manchester

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means police in Greater Manchester are able to verify that an identity card is valid.

Alan Johnson: We expect a number of checks will be based on visual verification of the card. We have provided detailed guidance on the security features that can be checked to ensure an identity card is genuine. Also, the police can request that the Identity and Passport Service check the validity of an identity card against the National Identity Register for prescribed purposes set out in legislation. These are for the prevention and detection of crime, national security, or to help identify a victim of an event which has caused loss of life or injury.

Identity Cards: Passports

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to combine the identity card and biometric passport schemes.

Alan Johnson: The Government's intention is to offer British citizens aged 16 and over the choice of being issued with a passport or an identity card or both documents and for applicants' identity details, including facial image and fingerprint biometrics, to be held on the same National Identity Register. As the Government are to introduce fingerprint biometric passports and essentially the same information will be recorded for the issue of a passport or identity card, it will be far more cost effective and secure to introduce a single application process and to hold the identity information of people issued with passports and identity cards on a single register rather than duplicating that information on separate but almost identical databases.

Illegal Immigrants

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to Baroness Warsi of 17 March 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 190WA, on Houses of Parliament: illegal staff, whether the individual who was the subject of the report to the UK Border Agency worked for the House of Commons Service.

Phil Woolas: The individual referred to in the answer to Baroness Warsi of 17 March 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 190WA, was engaged directly by a contracted cleaning company.

Immigration: Gurkhas

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Gurkha veterans have claimed resettlement rights since August 2009; and how many of them are receiving  (a) pension credit,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) council tax benefit.

Phil Woolas: Any former member of the Brigade of Gurkhas who served for four years or more is eligible to apply for settlement in the UK. Since we published our revised guidance in 2009 we have granted settlement to 2,179 individuals.
	The UK's benefit systems do not record the nationality of people receiving benefits because nationality is not a condition of entitlement.

Islamist Militants

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the funds raised in the UK for overseas Islamist militants.

David Hanson: holding answer 29 March 2010
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 22 March this year the first annual report on progress against the objectives set out in the Government's overall strategy for countering international terrorism (known as 'CONTEST'), which includes information on work to tackle terrorist finance. For reasons of national security it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the Government's assessments of the levels of funds raised in the UK for terrorism overseas.

Khat

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the health effects of khat.

Alan Campbell: The HO commissioned two studies in 2009 to explore the social harms associated with khat use. The first of these is a qualitative study exploring perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use; the availability of treatment services provided for khat users; and perceptions of the appropriate role of Government intervention. The second is a review of the national and international literature examining the evidence on the social harms associated with khat and the impact of legislation in countries which have legislated against khat use and supply.
	The perceived health effects of khat are briefly reported on in each of the studies. The Home Office has not commissioned any overall evaluations of the health effects associated with khat use.

Mobile Phones: Surveillance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on  (a) contracts with Roke Manor and  (b) other projects relating to the Celldar mobile telephone monitoring system.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2010
	 The Home Department has not spent any money on  (a) contracts with Roke Manor or  (b) other projects relating to the Celldar mobile telephone monitoring system.

Offences Against Children

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will take steps to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 29 March 2010
	We are currently taking steps to assess the UK's compliance with its obligations under the convention.

Offensive Weapons: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving a weapon there have been in North Shropshire in each year since 1997; and what type of weapon was involved in each case.

Alan Campbell: The main police recorded crime return does not identify the use of a weapon in a given offence. Figures are collected for possession of weapon offences, but these do not include the more serious offences with which weapons are often associated, such as grievous bodily harm with intent.
	Data relating to firearms offences and knife and sharp instrument offences are available, through additional special collections separate to the main recorded crime return. Figures are collected at police force level only, so data are provided for West Mercia police force area.
	Data for firearms offences (excluding air weapons) are available since 1997-98 and are shown in Tables A, B and C.
	There were two major changes in the way that police record crime in 1998 and 2002. In April 1998, the way in which crime was counted changed and the coverage of offences increased. In April 2002 the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced, which brought in a more victim-focused reporting system. This means that it is not possible to compare figures across these recording changes and this is reflected in the tables.
	Data for knife/sharp instrument offences have been collected since April 2007 via a special additional data collection. Data are therefore only available for two years.
	In 2007-08, the data collection covered the following offences: attempted murder, GBH and robbery. In 2008-09, the collection was expanded to include threats to kill, ABH, rape and sexual assaults. There were also changes in how both GBH with and without intent was recorded by forces following clarification of counting rules. Therefore, the figures between the two years are not comparable.
	The data for knife/sharp instrument offences are shown in Tables D and E.
	
		
			  Table A: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 1997-98 
			   Total number of offences 
			 1997-98 30 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 1998-99 to 2001-02( 1,2) 
			   Total number of offences 
			 1998-99 38 
			 1999-2000 36 
			 2000-01 41 
			 2001-02 54 
			 (1) The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998/99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997-98. (2) The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) in West Mercia police force area, 2002-03 to 2008-09( 1) 
			   Total number of offences 
			 2002-03 48 
			 2003-04 62 
			 2004-05 151 
			 2005-06 115 
			 2006-07 58 
			 2007-08 124 
			 2008-09 79 
			 (1) The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table D: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by West Mercia police for selected offences, 2007-08( 1) 
			  Offence category  Number of offences 
			 Attempted murder 1 
			 Wounding with intent to do GBH 43 
			 Wounding or inflicting GBH without intent(2) 20 
			 Robbery 80 
			 Total of selected serious offences 144 
			 (1) Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instalment. In this table offences involving a knife refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown in this table. (2) Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table E: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by West Mercia police for selected offences, 2008-09( 1) 
			  Offence category  Number of offences 
			 Attempted murder 5 
			 Threats to kill 16 
			 ABH and GBH(2) 137 
			 Robbery 81 
			 Rape and sexual assaults 1 
			 Total of selected serious offences 242 
			 (1) Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument In this table offences involving a knife refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown in this table. Collection expanded in 2008-09. (2) Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH.

Offensive Weapons: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) knives and  (b) firearms have been recovered by police in North Shropshire in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The requested data are not held centrally.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative Party and  (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry), on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Police

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of police  (a) time and  (b) budget spent on tackling (i) gang related crimes, (ii) robbery, (iii) criminal damage and (iv) sexual offences.

Alan Johnson: Table A contains the percentages of police officer time spent on different activities for the financial year 2007-08 for England and Wales. To reduce paperwork burdens on police officers the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08 in response to the recommendations by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service published in February 2009. Activities are grouped according to whether they are related to crime incidents, related to non-crime incidents (e.g. road traffic accidents), or not related to specific incidents. In this last case, these activities could be related to crime (e.g. prison interviews), or to general police duties and activities (e.g. training).
	The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling frontline staff to focus on dealing with the public's priorities, as measured against the confidence target-now the only top-down target on forces.
	Table A indicates that, in 2007-08, the police in England spent 32.7 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.6 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents (although some of this will be crime-related).
	The comparative figures for Wales are 27.9 per cent., 20.7 per cent. and 51.5 per cent. respectively.
	Overall, in 2007-08, police in England and Wales spent 32.5 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.9 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents.
	For the specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of time spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police time, was 2.2 per cent., 2.1 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific time, the figures were 6.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.2 per cent. respectively. There is no category of 'gang-related crimes'.
	Table B contains police spend on different activities for the financial year 2007-08. As before, crime and non-crime incident-specific activities are differentiated. The categorisation of non-incident specific activities is different in Table B from Table A, however. Table B does not include costs of activities such as training, which are instead treated as overheads and included in the costs of all other activities. Further, Table B separates out some activities which are undertaken by particular staff or roles (e.g. 'intelligence analysis and research')-these are not included in Table A, as activity analysis covered only police officers working on foot, car or beat patrol, CID and traffic duties. Note that costs in Table B do not include 'sustaining overheads' such as running costs for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
	Table B indicates that for the financial year 2007-08 the police in England and Wales spent 34.9 per cent. of its total budget (excluding sustaining overheads) on crime incident-specific activities. For the same specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of budget spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police budget (excluding sustaining overheads), was 2.0 per cent., 2.2 per cent. and 2.6 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific budget spending, the figures were 5.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. respectively. As before, there is no category of 'gang-related crimes'.
	By way of context, Table C provides proportions of crime incidents of different types alongside the proportion of time and budgetary spend on crime devoted to these incident types. Thus it can be seen that, in 2007-08, robbery accounted for 1.7 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.7 per cent. and 5.7 per cent. of police time and budgetary spend respectively. Criminal damage accounted for 21 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.3 per cent. of both police time and budget. Sexual offences accounted for 1.1 per cent. of crime incidents, and 7.2 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. of police time and budget respectively.
	
		
			  Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales( 1) , 2007-08 
			   Percentage of time 
			  Activity  England  Wales  Total 
			  Dealing with crime incidents
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 3.4 2.3 3.3 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 4.0 4.2 4.0 
			 Sexual offences 2.3 2.1 2.3 
			 Burglary dwelling 2.8 2.8 2.8 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 1.2 1.5 1.2 
			 Robbery 2.2 0.9 2.2 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 1.8 1.7 1.8 
			 Deception/fraud 1.2 0.9 1.2 
			 Theft other 3.3 3.0 3.3 
			 Drugs offences 2.8 2.7 2.8 
			 Criminal damage 2.0 3.2 2.1 
			 Other crime 5.6 2.6 5.5 
			 Total 32.7 27.9 32.5 
			 
			  Dealing with non-crime incidents
			 RTA fatal/serious 1.0 0.9 1.0 
			 RTA minor injury/damage 1.2 1.7 1.2 
			 Traffic Other 2.4 3.8 2.5 
			 Public disorder 1.9 2.8 2.0 
			 Domestic dispute 2.1 2.4 2.2 
			 Complaint/nuisance 0.9 2.5 1.0 
			 Prostitution 0.1 0.0 0.1 
			 False alarms 0.1 0.3 0.2 
			 Missing person 1.1 1.7 1.2 
			 Sudden/suspicious death 0.6 1.2 0.6 
			 Other non crime 3.0 3.3 3.1 
			 Total 14.6 20.7 14.9 
			 
			  Non-incident related
			 Visible Patrol 13.7 15.2 13.8 
			 Court duties/escort 0.4 0.3 0.4 
			 Special operations/events 1.9 1.6 1.8 
			 Investigate complaints 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Deal with informants 0.4 0.0 0.3 
			 Community Involvement 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 Property inquiries 0.3 0.4 0.3 
			 Non incident inquiries 1.5 1.6 1.5 
			 Crime prevention activity 0.4 0.2 0.4 
			 Prison interviews 0.1 0.0 0.1 
			 Training 1.9 1.1 1.8 
			 Briefings/meetings 6.6 7.2 6.6 
			 Non incident linked paperwork 7.4 7.0 7.4 
			 Other non incident related work 5.0 3.6 4.9 
			 Staff development, appraisal, personnel-related 0.9 0.7 0.8 
			 Monitoring cellblock PACE 0.3 0.2 0.3 
			 Relief custody duties 0.4 0.8 0.4 
			 Call handling/relief control room duties/enquiry desk 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Checking paperwork (supervisory) 1.8 2.3 1.8 
			 Budgetary/financial 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 ID parades 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Other managerial/supervision 3.6 2.7 3.5 
			 Refreshments 4.2 4.6 4.2 
			 Waiting time 0.3 0.1 0.3 
			 Total 52.7 51.5 52.7 
			 
			 Grand total 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales( 1) , 2007-08 
			  Activity  Spend (£000)  Spend (percentage) 
			  Dealing with crime incidents   
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 395,906 4.50 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 346,819 4.00 
			 Sexual offences 226,678 2.60 
			 Burglary dwelling 259,262 3.00 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 130,232 1.50 
			 Robbery 170,458 2.00 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 195,493 2.20 
			 Deception/fraud 130,792 1.50 
			 Theft other 273,557 3.10 
			 Drugs offences 271,550 3.10 
			 Criminal damage 187,576 2.20 
			 Other crime 452,835 5.20 
			 Total 3,041,159 35 
			
			  Dealing with non-crime incidents   
			 RTA fatal/serious 76,905 0.90 
			 RTA minor injury/damage 105,163 1.20 
			 Traffic Other 243,729 2.80 
			 Public disorder 235,011 2.70 
			 Domestic dispute 175,446 2.00 
			 Complaint/nuisance 99,671 1.10 
			 Prostitution 7,876 0.10 
			 False alarms 13,058 0.10 
			 Missing person 112,040 1.30 
			 Sudden/suspicious death 81,260 0.90 
			 Other non crime 276,938 3.20 
			 Total 1,427,097 16 
			
			  Non-incident related   
			 Visible Patrol 1,207,838 13.80 
			 Court duties/escort 35,643 0.40 
			 Special operations/events 225,440 2.60 
			 Deal with informants 39,985 0.50 
			 Community Involvement 169,188 1.90 
			 Property inquiries 32,032 0.40 
			 Non incident inquiries 135,039 1.50 
			 Crime prevention activity 64,865 0.70 
			 Prison interviews 7,332 0.10 
			 Role Code-National, international policing, CT and Special Branch 474,839 5.40 
			 Role Code-Crime partnerships 90,021 1.00 
			 Role Code-Maintaining and developing partnerships 35,687 0.40 
			 Role Code-Intelligence Research and Analysis 368,101 4.20 
			 Role Code-Prisoner handling/custody 399,657 4.60 
			 Role Code-Call handling/inquiry office 603,164 6.90 
			 Role Code-Licensing 23,475 0.30 
			 Role Code-Criminal Justice 273,753 3.10 
			 Role Code-Police protection 21,014 0.20 
			 Role Code-Family liaison 19,830 0.20 
			 Role Code-Warrants 16,581 0.20 
			 ID parades 9,698 0.10 
			 Total 8,721,439 49 
			
			 Grand total 4,253,184 100.00 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Proportions of crime incidents, crime incident-related activity and crime incident-related spend by crime type, England and Wales( 1)  2007-08 
			   Percentage 
			  Crime incident type  Crime incidents  Time on crime incidents  Budget on crime incidents 
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 0.5 10.3 12.9 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 18.8 12.4 11.5 
			 Sexual offences 1.1 7.2 7.4 
			 Burglary dwelling 5.7 8.6 8.6 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 6.2 3.7 4.3 
			 Robbery 1.7 6.7 5.7 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 13.3 5.4 6.3 
			 Deception/fraud 3.2 3.7 4.3 
			 Theft other 22.3 10.1 8.9 
			 Drugs offences 4.6 8.6 8.9 
			 Criminal damage 21.0 6.3 6.3 
			 Other crime 1.4 17.0 14.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08.

Police: Bureaucracy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officer time was spent on each type of activity in  (a) England and  (b) Wales in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: Table A contains the percentages of police officer time spent on different activities for the financial year 2007-08 for England and Wales. To reduce paperwork burdens on police officers the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08 in response to the recommendations by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service published in February 2009. Activities are grouped according to whether they are related to crime incidents, related to non-crime incidents (e.g. road traffic accidents), or not related to specific incidents. In this last case, these activities could be related to crime (e.g. prison interviews), or to general police duties and activities (e.g. training).
	The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling front line staff to focus on dealing with the public's priorities, as measured against the confidence target-now the only top-down target on forces.
	Table A indicates that, in 2007-08, the police in England spent 32.7 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.6 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents (although some of this will be crime-related).
	The comparative figures for Wales are 27.9 per cent., 20.7 per cent. and 51.5 per cent. respectively.
	Overall, in 2007-08, police in England and Wales spent 32.5 per cent. of their time on all crime incident-specific activities, 14.9 per cent. of their time on all non-crime incident specific activities, and 52.7 per cent. of their time on activities which were not related to specific incidents.
	For the specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of time spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police time, was 2.2 per cent., 2.1 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific time, the figures were 6.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.2 per cent. respectively. There is no category of 'gang-related crimes'.
	Table B contains police spend on different activities for the financial year 2007-08. As before, crime and non-crime incident-specific activities are differentiated. The categorisation of non-incident specific activities is different in Table B from Table A, however. Table B does not include costs of activities such as training, which are instead treated as overheads and included in the costs of all other activities. Further, Table B separates out some activities which are undertaken by particular staff or roles (e.g. 'intelligence analysis and research')-these are not included in Table A, as activity analysis covered only police officers working on foot, car or beat patrol, CID and traffic duties. Note that costs in Table B do not include 'sustaining overheads' such as running costs for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
	Table B indicates that for the financial year 2007-08 the police in England and Wales spent 34.9 per cent. of its total budget (excluding sustaining overheads) on crime incident-specific activities. For the same specific offence groupings of robbery, criminal damage and sexual offending, the amount of budget spent by the police in England and Wales in 2007-08 on incident-specific activities, as a proportion of total police budget (excluding sustaining overheads), was 2.0 per cent., 2.2 per cent. and 2.6 per cent. respectively. As a proportion of total crime incident-specific budget spending, the figures were 5.7 per cent., 6.3 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. respectively. As before, there is no category of 'gang-related crimes'.
	By way of context, Table C provides proportions of crime incidents of different types alongside the proportion of time and budgetary spend on crime devoted to these incident types. Thus it can be seen that, in 2007-08, robbery accounted for 1.7 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.7 per cent. and 5.7 per cent. of police time and budgetary spend respectively. Criminal damage accounted for 21 per cent. of crime incidents, and 6.3 per cent. of both police time and budget. Sexual offences accounted for 1.1 per cent. of crime incidents, and 7.2 per cent. and 7.4 per cent. of police time and budget respectively.
	
		
			  Table A: Police time by activity, England and Wales( 1) , 2007-08 
			  Percentage of time 
			  Activity  England  Wales  Total 
			  Dealing with crime incidents
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 3.4 2.3 3.3 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 4.0 4.2 4.0 
			 Sexual offences 2.3 2.1 2.3 
			 Burglary dwelling 2.8 2.8 2.8 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 1.2 1.5 1.2 
			 Robbery 2.2 0.9 2.2 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 1.8 1.7 1.8 
			 Deception/fraud 1.2 0.9 1.2 
			 Theft other 3.3 3.0 3.3 
			 Drugs offences 2.8 2.7 2.8 
			 Criminal damage 2.0 3.2 2.1 
			 Other crime 5.6 2.6 5.5 
			  32.7 27.9 32.5 
			 
			  Dealing with non-crime incidents
			 RTA fatal/serious 1.0 0.9 1.0 
			 RTA minor injury/damage 1.2 1.7 1.2 
			 Traffic Other 2.4 3.8 2.5 
			 Public disorder 1.9 2.8 2.0 
			 Domestic dispute 2.1 2.4 2.2 
			 Complaint/nuisance 0.9 2.5 1.0 
			 Prostitution 0.1 0.0 0.1 
			 False alarms 0.1 0.3 0.2 
			 Missing person 1.1 1.7 1.2 
			 Sudden/suspicious death 0.6 1.2 0.6 
			 Other non crime 3.0 3.3 3.1 
			  14.6 20.7 14.9 
			 
			  Non-incident related
			 Visible patrol 13.7 15.2 13.8 
			 Court duties/escort 0.4 0.3 0.4 
			 Special operations/events 1.9 1.6 1.8 
			 Investigate complaints 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Deal with informants 0.4 0.0 0.3 
			 Community involvement 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 Property inquiries 0.3 0.4 0.3 
			 Non incident inquiries 1.5 1.6 1.5 
			 Crime prevention activity 0.4 0.2 0.4 
			 Prison interviews 0.1 0.0 0.1 
			 Training 1.9 1.1 1.8 
			 Briefings/meetings 6.6 7.2 6.6 
			 Non-incident linked paperwork 7.4 7.0 7.4 
			 Other non-incident related work 5.0 3.6 4.9 
			 Staff development, appraisal, personnel-related 0.9 0.7 0.8 
			 Monitoring cellblock PACE 0.3 0.2 0.3 
			 Relief custody duties 0.4 0.8 0.4 
			 Call handling/relief control room duties/inquiry desk 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Checking paperwork (supervisory) 1.8 2.3 1.8 
			 Budgetary/financial 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 ID parades 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Other managerial/supervision 3.6 2.7 3.5 
			 Refreshments 4.2 4.6 4.2 
			 Waiting time 0.3 0.1 0.3 
			  52.7 51.5 52.7 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Police spend by activity, England and Wales( 1) , 2007-08 
			  Activity  Spend (£000)  Spend (percentage) 
			  Dealing with crime incidents   
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 395,906 4.50 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 346,819 4.00 
			 Sexual offences 226,678 2.60 
			 Burglary dwelling 259,262 3.00 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 130,232 1.50 
			 Robbery 170,458 2.00 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 195,493 2.20 
			 Deception/fraud 130,792 1.50 
			 Theft other 273,557 3.10 
			 Drugs offences 271,550 3.10 
			 Criminal damage 187,576 2.20 
			 Other crime 452,835 5.20 
			  3,041,159 35 
			  Dealing with non-crime incidents   
			 RTA fatal/serious 76,905 0.90 
			 RTA minor injury/damage 105,163 1.20 
			 Traffic Other 243,729 2.80 
			 Public disorder 235,011 2.70 
			 Domestic dispute 175,446 2.00 
			 Complaint/nuisance 99,671 1.10 
			 Prostitution 7,876 0.10 
			 False alarms 13,058 0.10 
			 Missing person 112,040 1.30 
			 Sudden/suspicious death 81,260 0.90 
			 Other non-crime 276,938 3.20 
			  1,427,097 16 
			  Non-incident related   
			 Visible patrol 1,207,838 13.80 
			 Court duties/escort 35,643 0.40 
			 Special operations/events 225,440 2.60 
			 Deal with informants 39,985 0.50 
			 Community involvement 169,188 1.90 
			 Property inquiries 32,032 0.40 
			 Non incident inquiries 135,039 1.50 
			 Crime prevention activity 64,865 0.70 
			 Prison interviews 7,332 0.10 
			 Role Code-National, international policing, CT and Special Branch 474,839 5.40 
			 Role Code-Crime partnerships 90,021 1.00 
			 Role Code-Maintaining and developing partnerships 35,687 0.40 
			 Role Code-Intelligence Research and Analysis 368,101 4.20 
			 Role Code-Prisoner handling/custody 399,657 4.60 
			 Role Code-Call handling/inquiry office 603,164 6.90 
			 Role Code-Licensing 23,475 0.30 
			 Role Code-Criminal justice 273,753 3.10 
			 Role Code-Police protection 21,014 0.20 
			 Role Code-Family liaison 19,830 0.20 
			 Role Code-Warrants 16,581 0.20 
			 ID parades 9,698 0.10 
			  4,253,184 49 
			 Total 8,721,439 100.00 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Proportions of crime incidents, crime incident-related activity and crime incident-related spend by crime type, England and Wales( 1) , 2007-08 
			  Percentage 
			  Crime incident type  Crime incidents  Time on crime incidents  Budget on crime incidents 
			 Violence against the person-S20 and more serious 0.5 10.3 12.9 
			 Violence against the person-S47 and less serious 18.8 12.4 11.5 
			 Sexual offences 1.1 7.2 7.4 
			 Burglary dwelling 5.7 8.6 8.6 
			 Burglary-commercial and other 6.2 3.7 4.3 
			 Robbery 1.7 6.7 5.7 
			 Theft of or from motor vehicle 13.3 5.4 6.3 
			 Deception/fraud 3.2 3.7 4.3 
			 Theft other 22.3 10.1 8.9 
			 Drugs offences 4.6 8.6 8.9 
			 Criminal damage 21.0 6.3 6.3 
			 Other crime 1.4 17.0 14.9 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 (1) Excludes Staffordshire, as this force did not submit AA data for 2007-08.

Police: Bureaucracy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officer time was spent on front-line policing in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: For the period 2003-04 to 2007-08, the front-line policing measure assesses time spent by police officers on core policing duties such as patrol and responding to 999 calls. They also include activities of CID and specialist officers, who, while not always visible to the public, are none the less carrying out core policing duties.
	The estimates by year are as follows: 2003-04, 63.6 per cent.; 2004-05, 62.3 per cent.; 2005-06, 63.6 per cent.; 2006-07, 64.2 per cent.; 2007-08, 64.9 per cent. Data for Staffordshire are not available for 2007-08 and these figures therefore exclude Staffordshire.
	The Policing Green Paper published in July 2008 introduced a robust programme to reduce bureaucracy and free-up officer time. This is enabling frontline staff to focus on dealing with the public's priorities, as measured against the confidence target-now the only top-down target on forces. As recommended by Sir David Normington in his review of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service, the collection of data about time spent by officers on police activities ceased after 2007-08.
	On 18 March 2010 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published Value for Money Profiles for the 43 forces in England and Wales. Explanatory material accompanying the profiles contains an overall analysis of the police workforce as at 31 March 2009 which shows the proportion by function as:
	 Aiding the public 47 per cent.
	Working in the community 36 per cent.
	Policing roads 4 per cent.
	Taking 999 calls and tasking (control room) 7 per cent.
	 Dealing with criminals 31 per cent.
	Investigating crime (for example CID) 13 per cent.
	Specialist functions (such as air support, firearms, dogs) 4 per cent.
	Gathering intelligence 4 per cent.
	Processing forensic evidence 2 per cent.
	Preparing cases for court (criminal justice) 5 per cent.
	Holding people in custody 3 per cent.
	 Helping to support 22 per cent.
	Operational Support (including planning, estates, vehicles) 8 per cent.
	Business Support (including HR, finance, IT) 11 per cent.
	Training 2 per cent.
	Other (such as catering and stores/supplies) 1 per cent.
	 Note:
	These figures relate to the breakdown of all police personnel by function. They therefore include police staff as well as officers.

Police: Council Tax

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average Band D police precept on council tax bills in  (a) England,  (b) England and Wales and  (c) each individual police authority (i) was in 1997-98 and (ii) will be in 2010-11 in (A) cash terms and (B) real terms in 2010 prices.

David Hanson: The information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Precept (Band D) 1997-98  Precept (Band D) 2010-11 
			  Police Authority  Cash  Real  Cash=real terms 
			 Avon and Somerset 52.04 70.46 168.03 
			 Bedfordshire 52.51 71.10 144.77 
			 Cambridgeshire 51.03 69.10 169.56 
			 Cheshire 51.16 69.27 144.53 
			 Cleveland 54.87 74.29 187.84 
			 Cumbria 58.20 78.80 193.89 
			 Derbyshire 51.31 69.47 163.74 
			 Devon and Cornwall 49.79 67.42 156.60 
			 Dorset 63.59 86.10 180.00 
			 Durham 52.20 70.68 153.41 
			 Essex 54.09 73.24 132.12 
			 Gloucestershire 51.17 69.28 199.69 
			 Greater Manchester 54.10 73.25 144.33 
			 Hampshire 51.75 70.07 146.25 
			 Hertfordshire 51.51 69.75 147.82 
			 Humberside 52.47 71.04 166.47 
			 Kent 51.59 69.85 138.68 
			 Lancashire 53.25 72.10 146.27 
			 Leicestershire 52.26 70.76 169.63 
			 Lincolnshire 69.03 93.47 179.28 
			 Metropolitan 63.27 85.67 216.83 
			 Merseyside 66.87 90.54 146.23 
			 Norfolk 50.58 68.49 191.16 
			 North Yorkshire 49.72 67.32 204.55 
			 Northamptonshire 70.56 95.54 193.20 
			 Northumbria 52.73 71.40 83.68 
			 Nottinghamshire 49.78 67.40 160.11 
			 South Yorkshire 53.29 72.16 132.33 
			 Staffordshire 54.74 74.12 177.61 
			 Suffolk 51.39 69.58 160.74 
			 Surrey 44.64 60.44 198.54 
			 Sussex 51.66 69.95 138.42 
			 Thames Valley 52.79 71.48 154.30 
			 Warwickshire 52.24 70.73 174.10 
			 West Mercia 50.87 68.88 178.72 
			 West Midlands 53.20 72.03 99.45 
			 West Yorkshire 53.17 71.99 130.50 
			 Wiltshire 55.22 74.77 157.77 
			 
			 Dyfed Powys 48.42 65.56 181.44 
			 Gwent 49.10 66.48 181.38 
			 North Wales 48.52 65.70 201.33 
			 South Wales 49.22 66.64 153.67 
			 
			 England Average 54.07 73.21 161.35 
			 England and Wales Average 53.57 72.53 163.07 
			  Sources: 1. English Police Authorities-DCLG 2. Welsh Police Authorities-WAG The averages calculated here are the averages of the precepts displayed above.

Rape

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to counter inaccurate perceptions of  (a) the number of falsely-reported rapes and  (b) individual responsibility for the crime of rape.

Alan Campbell: The information is as follows:
	 (a) MOJ and HO are considering the recommendation set out in Baroness Stern's independent review on this issue and will publish a full response to the review later this year.
	The Government are working with police and CPS to ensure that every victim has the confidence to report. Guidance on Investigating and Prosecuting Rape published in June 2009 by NPIA states that officers should assume victim reports are accurate unless evidence proves otherwise. Joint ACPO/CPS support team visits will have been made to every force to support the implementation of this guidance by March 2010.
	 (b) The Government recently launched a new advertising campaign to challenge teenagers' attitudes to violence and abuse in relationships. The campaign is the first part of a communications strategy announced in the Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. This can be viewed at the campaign website:
	http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk/
	A number of local areas run local campaigns to challenge attitudes on rape and in particular, those around consent. The Home Office has contributed to the cost of these campaigns, most recently, the Greater Manchester police awareness campaign No Consent, No Sex TV campaign in December 2009.

Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has visited Shropshire in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: In the last 12 months I have not visited Shropshire in an official capacity.

Stop and Search

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many stop and search procedures were performed on members of each ethnic minority in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many stop and search procedures were performed  (a) by Leicestershire Police,  (b) by officers of police authorities in the East Midlands and  (c) in England in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many stop and search procedures were performed on people in each age group in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Data on stop and search procedures performed by ethnic appearance in each of the last five years can be found in table 1.
	Data on stop and search procedures performed  (a) by Leicestershire police,  (b) by officers of police authorities in the East Midlands and  (c) in England in each of the last five years can be found in table 2.
	The stop and searches collection held by the Home Office does not breakdown stop and search procedures by age group.
	
		
			  Table 1:  Stop and search procedures performed, under sections 1, 60, 44(1) and 44(2), by ethnic appearance 
			  2007-08 
			  Main  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 White 738,505 35,973 42,006 31,961 848,445 
			 Black 172,393 11,837 8,753 6,465 199,448 
			 Asian 89,781 4,125 10,878 9,890 114,674 
			 Other 17,755 433 2,773 3,154 24,115 
			 Not Recorded 17,004 757 807 591 19,159 
			 Vehicle Only Searched 10,485 125 7,409 - 18,019 
			 Total 1,045,923 53,250 72,626 52,061 1,223,860 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Main  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 White 690,643 25,520 16,878 9,695 742,736 
			 Black 152,120 13,219 2,412 1,230 168,981 
			 Asian 77,421 4,522 3,127 2,438 87,508 
			 Other 14,755 618 756 909 17,038 
			 Not Recorded 20,174 780 312 206 21,472 
			 Vehicle Only Searched 7,784 48 4,871 - 12,703 
			 Total 962,897 44,707 28,356 14,478 1,050,438 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			  Main  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 White 629,624 22,702 19,187 11,650 683,163 
			 Black 133,769 7,199 2,046 2,110 145,124 
			 Asian 68,173 4,856 2,809 3,994 79,832 
			 Other 13,967 594 944 994 16,499 
			 Not Recorded 32,620 897 493 316 34,326 
			 Vehicle Only Searched 10,522 28 5,504 - 16,054 
			 Total 888,675 36,276 30,983 19,064 974,998 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  Main  Searches of persons under section 1-general( 1)  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 White 16,383 23,405 17,337 7,456 64,581 
			 Black 180 9,926 2,113 631 12,850 
			 Asian 96 6,858 2,659 1,047 10,660 
			 Other 295 810 842 587 2,534 
			 Not Recorded 4,047 576 402 146 5,171 
			 Vehicle Only Searched 95 36 3,793 - 3,924 
			 Total 861,494 41,611 27,146 9,867 940,118 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  Main  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 White 547,369 23,868 14,806 5,840 591,883 
			 Black 108,208 9,385 2,146 558 120,297 
			 Asian 53.794 5,627 2,571 1,097 63,089 
			 Other 10,796 688 904 418 12,806 
			 Not Recorded 16,552 625 867 209 18,253 
			 Vehicle Only Searched 12,725 243 4,396 10 17,374 
			 Total 749,444 40,436 25,690 8,132 74,258 
			 '- 'Data not broken down by vehicle only search (1) Data for searches of person under section 1-general has been estimated 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Stop and search procedures performed in Leicestershire, East Midlands and England, under sections 1, 60, 44(1) and 44(2) 
			  2007-08 
			  Police force area  Searc hes of persons under section 1- general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles  and occupants under section 44(1 )  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 Leicestershire 24,181 837 4 5 25,027 
			 East Midlands Region 64,905 1,522 8 5 66,440 
			 England 1,004,004 52,592 59,697 51,630 1,177,923 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Police force area  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 Leicestershire 21,849 744 - 2 22,595 
			 East Midlands Region 61,508 2,339 5 4 63,856 
			 England 919,816 44,458 24,878 12,701 1,001,853 
		
	
	
		
			  2005- 06 
			  Police force area  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 Leicestershire 17,923 1,039 1 27 18,990 
			 East Midlands Region 52,904 2,317 11 223 55,455 
			 England 848,400 35,596 28,861 18,781 931,638 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  Police force area  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 Leicestershire 15,350 583 0 0 15,933 
			 East Midlands Region 44,958 1,266 0 0 46,224 
			 England 811,300 40,783 23,731 10,209 886,023 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  Police force area  Searches of persons under section 1-general  Searches of persons in anticipation of violence under section 60  Searches of vehicles and occupants under section 44(1)  Searches of persons in order to prevent acts of terrorism under section 44(2)  Total 
			 Leicestershire 12,523 1,005 7 2 13,537 
			 East Midlands Region 38,585 1,384 7 2 39,978 
			 England 710,826 40,409 25,118 7,501 783,854

Stop and Search: Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) stopped and  (b) searched under the provisions of section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in North Shropshire in each month of the last five years.

David Hanson: The Home Office does not hold statistics which are recorded in this way. The Home Office does collate statistics on the number of terrorism arrests and convictions and these are included in a Bulletin published for the first time on 13 May 2009 (Statistics on Terrorism Arrests and Outcomes Great Britain 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2008).
	The second issue of the Bulletin was published on 26 November 2009 and, unlike the first edition, includes data on stop/searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The bulletin is available via the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1809.pdf
	The third issue of this bulletin was published on 25 February 2010 and is available via the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0410.pdf
	In addition to the above bulletins, the Home Office publishes Statistics on Police Powers and Procedures, which includes a force by force breakdown of stop/searches under Section 44. The last edition of that bulletin (covering 2007-08) is available via the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0709.pdf
	The next edition of this bulletin (covering 2008-09) is scheduled to be published before the end of April 2010. Links to the bulletins covering the four years up to 2007-08 are included in the following:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/arrests-recorded-crime-engl-wales-2006-07-b.pdf
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/arrests-for-recorded-crime-england-and-wales.pdf
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2105.pdf
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb1804.pdf

War Crimes

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are plans to establish a specialist war crimes unit in the Metropolitan police.

David Hanson: Arrangements already exist within the Metropolitan police service for dealing with allegations of war crimes in liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, UKBA and other agencies as appropriate. These arrangements remain under review to ensure that they continue to be effective.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Aviation: Treaties

Julian Brazier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to ratify the air protocol to the 2001 Cape Town Convention.

Ian Lucas: The UK played an active role in negotiations regarding the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment at the 2001 Diplomatic Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa. The UK is committed to its ratification, and will be issuing a Call for Evidence seeking stakeholder views on this matter in the near future.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Pat McFadden: holding answer 25 March 2010
	Events organised by the Department cover such matters as business summits, trade missions, conferences concerning EU issues and so on, where hospitality is not the only, or even the main cost. Often, the costs of such events are shared with other organisations. It is not possible to disaggregate the BIS hospitality costs of these events except at disproportionate cost.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 26 March 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22nd March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office does not generally host hospitality events, although it runs a number of outreach events and seminars on Intellectual Property issues. The Office has on occasion hosted launch events on specific issues. These include:
	Artist Resale Rights: £625
	Lambert Tool Kit: £2,495
	IP Crime Report: £5,072
	World IP day '09: £3,210
	World IP day '08: £9.375
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 March 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the cost and purpose of the five most expensive hospitality events in the last three years.
	The five most expensive hospitality events hosted by the National Measurement Office in the last three years were:
	1) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost £6,024.30 in March 2008.
	2) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost £5,824.99 in January 2008. This was in addition to the above as it involved a different sector of stakeholders.
	3) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of £5,820.45. This took place in November 2009.
	4) A chemical and biological metrology seminar held in London at a cost of £5,328.67. This took place in November 2009.
	5) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of £4,941.82. This took place in November 2008
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 25 March 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 March 2010, UIN 324412, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House does not host hospitality events.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 26 March 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, to list the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of each.
	The Insolvency Service hosted a reception for its stakeholders in December 2007 at a cost of £4,177. This was attended principally by insolvency practitioners, members of the judiciary and people working in the debt advice sector (both commercial and charitable).
	In April 2009, The Service held an internal ceremony to present awards to members of its staff who had obtained an award under one of The Service's bespoke qualification programmes. This work-related event was also attended by members of the awarding body, Nottingham Trent University, and some external training partners, 12 individuals in total. The cost of the refreshments provided to those attending from outside The Service was £640.
	In October 2009, The Service held a half-day conference for stakeholders concerning its project to modernise the Insolvency Rules 1986. Refreshments were provided for the delegates at the end of the conference at a cost of £962.

Easter

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent consideration the Secretary of State has given to bringing into force the provisions of the Easter Act 1928 which fix the date of Easter; and if he will make a statement.

Pat McFadden: The Easter Act 1928 remains on the statute book but the Act requires that before a draft order is laid before Parliament:
	regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body.
	There are no plans to implement the provisions of the Act.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department plans to provide on  (a) the steps an agency must undertake to establish the parameters for equal treatment from an end-user of agency workers under the Agency Worker Regulations 2010,  (b) the extent to which measures undertaken by an agency to ascertain the information needed to provide equal treatment will be considered reasonable steps under section 14(3)(a) of the regulations and  (c) safeguards for agencies from unreasonable liability where an end-user of agency workers does not accurately provide the information required to determine equal treatment under the regulations or attempts to indemnify against such liability.

Pat McFadden: The Government fully understand the importance of providing clear, comprehensive guidance on the agency workers regulations prior to their entry into force. This will be drawn up in consultation with stakeholders and will address these and other issues.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to monitor the effects of the Agency Worker Regulations 2010 on the agency worker industry once they have entered into force.

Pat McFadden: The Government are committed to post-implementation review (PIR) of new legislation in line with better regulation principles. The PIR would be used to identify whether the policy change is achieving the desired results. In the case of the agency workers regulations, a post implementation review is planned for 2013. It is expected that this will feed into the overall review of the Agency Workers Directive that the European Commission is required to carry out by December of that year by virtue of article 12.

Further Education: Finance

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Learning and Skills Council news release of 9 February 2010, entitled Learning and Skills Council Honours Commitment to Help Colleges with Financial Problems, which of the 41 colleges to receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are in London; which colleges in  (a) England and  (b) London were identified by the LSC as facing financial difficulty as a direct result of aborted capital spending; what assessment has been made of the extent of the financial difficulty faced by such colleges in (i) England and (ii) London; and how much funding will be provided to each college.

Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is committed to ensuring that no college experiences financial difficulty as a result of decisions taken on capital. As a result the LSC has now paid all contractual obligations and has granted £43 million in additional support to 42 colleges identified as experiencing or anticipating serious financial problems as a result of the programme. The LSC will continue to work with the sector to ensure that no further colleges get into financial difficulty as a result of developing a capital proposal. I am unable to provide financial details relating to individual colleges as they are commercially sensitive to the colleges involved.

Licensing Laws: Music

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many licensees of  (a) pubs,  (b) restaurants and  (c) bars (i) applied for and (ii) were (A) granted and (B) refused licences to perform live music in (1) Montgomeryshire and (2) England in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate data specifically on premises licence applications for the provision of live music, and does not collate data by premises type. This is because the Licensing Act 2003 defines activities not premises type.
	The number of premises licences with live music provisions in the Licensing Authority of Powys was 505 on 31 March 2007, 528 on 31 March 2008 and 559 on 31 March 2009.
	The estimated total premises licences with live music provisions in England and Wales was 75,200 on 31 March 2007, 79,800 on 31 March 2008 and 83,600 on 31 March 2009.

Licensing Laws: Music

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications to vary licences for the provision of regulated entertainment in  (a) pubs,  (b) restaurants and  (c) bars have been made in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate data specifically on applications to vary licences for the provision of regulated entertainment and does not collate data by premises type. This is because the Licensing Act defines activities not premises type.
	The total number of applications to vary a premises licence in England and Wales is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of applications to vary premises licences  Number granted  Licensing authorities responding to the question (percentage) 
			 2006/07 9,534 9,050 80 
			 2007/08 11,114 10,642 95 
			 2008/09 7,473 7,004 97

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of  (a) the Conservative Party and  (b) the Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Pat McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Optics: Technology

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Hauser review of the current and future role of technology and innovation centres in the UK considered the establishment and development of the Optic centre at St. Asaph Business Park.

David Lammy: The Hauser review was not established with a view to identifying and prioritising centres that should receive support in the future and as such no assessment has been made of the Optic centre at St. Asaph Business Park. However, the report and recommendations provide a broad framework for future investment in technology and innovation centres. My noble Friend the Secretary of State has accepted these recommendations and has commissioned the Technology Strategy Board to work with industry, stakeholders, and wider government on how to implement the recommendations in the Hauser review and to report back by the pre-Budget report on the process, priority areas, scale of investment required and governance structure.

Student Loans Company: Redundancy

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with officials from the Student Loans Company regarding the redundancies at the company's Glasgow offices announced in January 2010.

David Lammy: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is a non-departmental public body and decisions about staffing matters are for the company and its board. The chairman and senior executives of the company have discussions regularly with Ministers about the service the company provides for its customers. I was told by the chair of the SLC on 26 January 2010 that the company intended to announce its restructuring on the following day; and attended a meeting requested by the SLC branch of the Public and Commercial Services trade union on January 26.

UK Space Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of officials at each pay band and  (b) the administration costs of the UK Space Agency in 2010-11.

David Lammy: The final staffing structure will be completed only when all discussions on post transfers are finalised. The current estimate of full-time equivalents translated to BIS grades is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 SCS 4 
			 Grade 6/7 18.5 
			 SEO/HEO/EO/AO 18.25 
		
	
	The above remains an estimate pending final agreement. Back office support for HR, finance and grants will be contracted from one or more of the existing partners.
	The estimated administration costs, including staff costs for 2010/11 will be £3.2 million plus the back office function costs, which are funded by existing partners and the necessary transfers are still in negotiation.
	There will be no increase in BNSC costs.

UK Space Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the remit of the UK Space Agency is; when he plans to appoint a Space Agency director; what resources he has allocated to the Space Agency in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) each of the next three financial years; and from which existing budgets such resources will be drawn.

David Lammy: The remit of the United Kingdom Space Agency is to manage UK Government civil space programmes as an executive agency. The agency will also represent the UK in European and international forums. Dr David Williams, the Director General of the British National Space Centre (BNSC), will be the acting CEO from 1 April 2010.
	A competition will be held to fill the new post of CEO for the UK Space Agency later this year. The agency will begin its role from 1 April 2010, so all 2009/10 budgets resided with existing BNSC partners and not the agency.
	In 2010/11, the estimated budget is £230 million, but this is subject to final negotiations with existing BNSC partners.
	The resources for 2010/11 will be drawn from programmes in BIS, the Technology Strategy Board, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, DEFRA, DfT and MOD.
	Budgets beyond 2010/11 have not yet been set.

UK Space Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost of launching the UK Space Agency was; and what the cost of developing the Agency's  (a) website and  (b) logo was.

David Lammy: The direct cost of creating the new UK Space Agency and re-branding the British National Space Centre is £46,500, relating to the launch event itself-note that this event also included the launch of the Government response to the Space IGT-the development of the logo, the protection of trademarks on the name and logo within the UK, and the website revamp. Of this £46,500, £1,000 was to revamp the website for its launch by 1 April, and £18,000 was for the logo design and its protection.

UK Space Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department commissioned external organisations to assist with the launch of the UK Space Agency.

David Lammy: Yes, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills commissioned external organisations to assist with the launch of the UK Space Agency. These organisations helped handle interview requests from national, regional and trade media; and also captured video and photos of the event which will be used in future publications and online.

TREASURY

Council Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Glenrothes of 20 January 2010,  Official Report, column 391W, on council tax, whether his Department has estimated the cost of a council tax freeze in  (a) year one and  (b) year two taking into account council tax benefit savings;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chorley of 26 January 2010,  Official Report, column 673, on council tax, what estimate he has made of the cost of a council tax freeze in England net of savings from council tax benefit payments.

Liam Byrne: The estimates referred to on 20 January 2010,  Official Report, column 391W, and 26 January 2010,  Official Report, column 673, are the cost to central Government of providing every council in England with top-up funding to compensate for freezing council tax for two years. This costing considered only the direct costs of providing a top-up, assumed to be equivalent to a 2.5 per cent. increase in band D bills in England.
	The impact on council tax benefit of a two-year freeze on council tax has not been estimated.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 22 November 2005, what the purpose and function is of Project 1.5; and what enhancements it has made to Project 1.

Ian Pearson: The purpose and function of Project 1.5 was to deliver a series of enhancements to Project 1. These enhancements did not alter the fundamental operation of the Automated Valuation Model (AVM) system but were a refinement of processes within, and outputs from, the system, together with the generation of additional management reports.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 31 March 2003, paragraph 1.05, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Project Timetable.

Ian Pearson: The minutes refer to 'the Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Project Timetable (V01 14/03/2003)'. This timetable was for initial scoping activity and is headed Proof of Concept. A copy of the document is being placed in the Library.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 22 November 2005, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Programme Closure documents PRMP-12, PRMP-37 and PRMP-38, redacting the names of junior civil servants.

Ian Pearson: Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which opinion research company conducted the People's Panel research for the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme; what reports they produced; and what the cost was of that research.

Ian Pearson: ORC International conducted the People's Panel research work at a cost of £75,968. Two reports were produced, one presenting the output of focus groups and the other presenting that of in-depth interviews conducted with a sample of council taxpayers.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 20 January 2004, paragraph 3, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the Omnibus survey.

Ian Pearson: A copy of the results of the Valuation Office Agency's (VOA) Council Tax Omnibus Survey 2004 has been placed in the Library.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 17 February 2004, paragraph 5, if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) presentation from the Welsh office of the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) paper from statisticians.

Ian Pearson: The papers requested are not held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 24 May 2004, paragraph 3, if he will place in the Library a copy of Handout 1 and Handout 2.

Ian Pearson: Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 23 November 2004, paragraph 7, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised version of the Benefits Analysis document.

Ian Pearson: A copy of this document will be placed in the Library.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 19 October 2004, paragraph 3.10, if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation on the insight to automated valuation model estimates; and in which areas the mini-revaluations took place.

Ian Pearson: This presentation was a live demonstration of emerging test modelling outputs and outcomes. As such there is no presentation that can be placed in the Library.
	Prior to the postponement of the 2007 Council Tax Revaluation in England, 'Mini Revaluation' (later known as Test Modelling) exercises were carried out, in order to test and refine the automated valuation model, in the following billing authority areas:
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Birmingham
	Blackpool
	Bradford
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol
	Camden
	Canterbury
	Colchester
	Derby
	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	Enfield
	Gosport
	Greenwich
	Hillingdon
	Ipswich
	Kettering
	Liverpool
	Milton Keynes
	Newham
	North Tyneside
	Oldham
	Restormel
	Rotherham
	Sefton
	South Ribble
	Stockport
	Stroud
	Sutton
	Tamworth
	Tonbridge and Malling
	Tower Hamlets
	Wandsworth
	Watford
	West Berkshire
	West Lindsey

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 25 May 2005, if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper presenting the case for the acquisition of Rightmove data.

Ian Pearson: A copy of this document, with commercially sensitive information redacted, will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Contracts

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue guidance on his Department's policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Government's written evidence to the Treasury Sub-Committee's inquiry into Estate Management in the Chancellor's Departments, HC 852-i 2007-08, Ev 37.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Office of Government Commerce has made of the extent of the use of  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies within buildings occupied by (i) central Government Departments and (ii) the Government estate since the publication of the Delivery Plan for Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government Estate.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 29 March 2010
	The Office of Government Commerce recommends reducing the voltage of supplied electricity, including voltage optimisation to central Government Departments as one means to achieving the target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11.
	Government hold data on voltage reduction. However, the element of voltage optimisation is not disaggregated within this.
	Two Departments are already making use of a framework agreement for voltage reduction and/or optimisation technology and we estimate that a further seven Departments and wider Members of the Government estate are planning usage of improving voltage supply technologies in their buildings across the Government estate.

Departmental Marketing

Robert Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies,  (c) HM Revenue and Customs and  (d) the Valuation Office Agency have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the (i) Real Help Now and (ii) Building Britain's Future themed campaign to date.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: For HM Treasury, the Real Help Now endorsement phrase has been included in some marketing material to promote the Money Guidance pilot service in the north west and north east of England between April 2009 and March 2010. The marketing campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the service as a free source of impartial help for families on personal finance matters. The service is available to all but is targeted at those most vulnerable to poor financial decision making. Some of the marketing material on TV, local radio and local press advertising carried the Real Help Now logo. There were no additional costs to the campaign as a result of including Real Help Now. In total just under £3 million has been spent marketing the Money Guidance pathfinder service since April 2009.
	For HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), £1.4 million has been spent on the Real Help Now cross-government campaign; £230,000 of the total was funded by HMRC with the balance coming from other Government Departments. Two further campaigns included Real Help Now identifiers. £388,000 was spent on the Business Payments Support Service advertising campaign which carried the Real Help for Business Now logo and £165,000 was spent on those elements of the Payments for Parents campaign which carried the Real Help for Families Now logo. All of the spending was funded from within existing departmental budgets.
	No spending on Building Britain's Future-themed campaigns was reported by any of the Departments, and no spending on Real Help Now was reported by the Valuation Office Agency, Debt Management Office or the Office of Government Commerce.

Economic Situation: Multiple Births

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the financial situation of multiple birth families; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government's system of financial support for families recognises the additional costs involved in multiple births as child benefit and child tax credits are paid per child to eligible families.
	The Sure Start maternity grant, which is specifically intended to help people on certain benefits and tax credits to meet the immediate needs of a new baby, is also paid per child. The Health in Pregnancy grant is intended to provide financial support for women during pregnancy, not to their children after birth and the grant is therefore paid per pregnancy.

Employment

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) public and  (b) private sector jobs contracted to deliver public services which were relocated offshore in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: No specific estimate has been made of the number of public and private sector jobs contracted to deliver public services relocated off-shore.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of Equitable Life pension fund members resident in City of York constituency.

Liam Byrne: The Treasury does not hold the details of Equitable Life pension fund members resident in City of York constituency.

EU Grants and Loans: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much funding from the  (a) European Social Fund and  (b) European Regional Development Fund was available to Wales in (a) 2009-10 and (b) each of the last 10 financial years; how much such funding from each fund was drawn down in respect of Wales in each of those years; and how much such funding from each fund he expects to be available to Wales in each of the next two financial years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 March 2010
	 The UK Government are responsible for managing the UK's overall contribution to the EU budget. However, the management of the EU social fund and regional development fund in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Commission.

EU Grants and Loans: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of EU funding for Wales of the new cohesion policy provided for by the Lisbon Treaty.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 March 2010
	 The management of EU structural fund programmes in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Commission.

Government Departments: Bank Cards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government procurement cards were reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: 3,316 Government Procurement Cards were officially reported lost or stolen during the period January to December 2009.
	Buying Solutions, an Executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce, and the banks that issue the Government Procurement cards take lost and stolen cards very seriously. Buying Solutions provides advice to departments on how to reduce the risk of card fraud and each of the card issuers provides guidance to cardholders and programme administrators on the importance of keeping cards safe. Card issuers also use statement messaging to advise customers on security.

Government Departments: Buildings

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets have been set for Government departments to reduce the cost of their estates; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of savings in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12.

Liam Byrne: Through the High Performing Property (HPP) programme Government has targeted annual real running cost savings of between £1 billion and £1.5 billion per annum by 2013 from the central civil Government estate, not broken down by individual Departments. This target saving contributes to the target announced in Budget 2010 to save £5 billion per annum in property running costs through more effective management of assets and property across the whole public sector.
	The State of the Estate for 2009 reports that the Government estate is performing better than the private sector in a number of key areas. The annual real cost of running the estate, adjusted for inflation, has fallen by 17 per cent., equivalent to a reduction of approximately £740 million since 2003-04. This achieves the interim targeted annual savings of between £600 million and £800 million by March 2011. No target was set for 2009-10 or 2011-12. Government Departments are therefore on track to meet the HPP target savings.

Government Departments: Consultants

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to the public purse was of expenditure by Government departments on consultancies in the last year for which figures are available; and what the estimated level of such expenditure is in each of the next three years.

Liam Byrne: The most recent year for which public expenditure on consultancy is available 2008-09. These data were published by the Office of Government Commerce alongside Budget 2010 in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/publicspending
	The expenditure set out here will be reduced by 50 per cent. a year by 2012-13, as set in the pre-Budget report 2009.

Government Departments: Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010,  Official Report, column 604W, on Government departments: marketing, 
	(1)  what the estimated cash value is of the level of marketing and communications spend in 2009-10 on which the 25 per cent. cut will be based;
	(2)  what the base  (a) year and  (b) cash value is of the level of consultancy spend on which the cut of 50 per cent. will be based.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over £11 billion of savings have now been identified by Department for the years from 2012-13. This includes the consultancy, marketing and communications cuts which were identified based on 2008-09 spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the 'Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009', published alongside the Budget.

Government Departments: Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2010,  Official Report, column 604W, on Government departments: marketing, what the estimated level of savings is from reducing consultancy and marketing/advertising spend in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over £11 billion of savings have now been identified by Departments for the years from 2012-13. This includes over £650 million by 2012-13 from reducing departmental consultancy spend by 50 per cent. and departmental marketing and communications spend by 25 per cent. from 2008-09 spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside the Budget, it will be up to Departments to decide how they implement these cuts to ensure they meet the targets by 2012-13.

Government Departments: Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the total cash spend on marketing, advertising and public relations by central Government in the last 12 months; and what proportion of such expenditure was made through the Central Office of Information.

Liam Byrne: Central Government departmental total cash spend on marketing, advertising and public relations is collected by financial year. Therefore the most recent data collected cover financial year 2008-09. This information was published by department and non-departmental public body alongside Budget 2010 by the Office of Government Commerce in Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009.
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/publicspending

Government Departments: Pay

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the policy of approving bonus payments of over £50,000 will apply to all staff.

Liam Byrne: The 2009 pre-Budget report announced a set of fundamental reforms to pay-setting for senior staff, as part of this, I will approve all bonus payments of over £50,000 where ministerial sign-off is needed. For public sector bodies where ministerial approval is not required, the Government expect all organisations making any bonus payments in excess of £50,000, to publicly justify this level to the relevant Secretary of State.

Government: Cost Effectiveness

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010,  Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, whether the £500 million of savings by reducing duplication between organisations will include savings delivered by the Total Place initiative; and whether Total Place savings will be allocated to  (a) central and  (b) local government.

Liam Byrne: The Government announced in pre-Budget report 2009 that at least £500 million would be saved by 2012-13 by reducing duplication between organisations and streamlining arm's length bodies. Budget 2010 gives further detail on how these savings will be achieved.
	These savings are being delivered as part of the Government's commitment to deliver £11 billion of savings by 2012-13, set out in Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government and are separate from any savings identified through Total Place. The Total Place report, published on 25 March 2010, set out further details of how savings will be achieved.

Infrastructure: Expenditure

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget has been allocated for the work to be undertaken by Infrastructure UK in its investigation into the cost of delivering major infrastructure projects in the UK referred to in paragraph 4.4 of the report on Strategy for National Infrastructure.

Liam Byrne: Infrastructure UK is setting up a steering group for the investigation into the cost of delivery, initially with the Government's chief construction adviser and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Office of Government Commerce and the Department for Transport. A budget for the investigation has not yet been agreed between Infrastructure UK and these organisations.

Local Government: Cost Effectiveness

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 25 January 2010,  Official Report, column 598W, on local government: cost effectiveness, what methodology was used to identify £550 million as the expected figure for savings from local government; and what arrangements will be made for local authorities unable to reach their targets for efficiency savings.

Liam Byrne: The 2009 pre-Budget report sets out a number of areas where local government will be able to find efficiency savings over the next spending period, of £550 million per year by 2012-13.
	Departments have worked closely to explore potential savings across the different functions and service areas of local authorities, and the scope for local initiatives that have delivered savings to be taken up more widely. It is for individual local authorities to make efficiencies based on local priorities and use of resources.
	During the CSR 2007 period, local authorities have been free to use savings to hold down council tax or reinvest in other services. Councils do not have individual targets, but where a council is failing to deliver the level of efficiencies expected of the sector as a whole, we would expect the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and local government office to play an active role in supporting the council.

Local Government: Cost Effectiveness

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the working estimate is of the cash value of local government's contribution to the Operational Efficiency Programme's target of £8 billion of efficiency savings by 2012-13; and whether the £8 billion of annual savings are cumulative by 2012-13.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 provided an update on the £8 billion of Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) savings and the £3 billion cross-cutting savings by 2012-13. Details of the proportion of these savings contributed by local government are available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1516900
	The £8 billion annual OEP savings are savings to be delivered by 2012-13, against a baseline year of 2010-11. These are not cumulative savings. More detail on OEP savings numbers is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/oep_final_report_210409_pu728.pdf

Non-domestic Rates

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what notification to the Valuation Office Agency is required of business rate payers when a hereditament is split; and how many such notifications were made in each year since 2000.

Ian Pearson: Ratepayers may make a formal proposal to the local Valuation Officer asking that a hereditament be treated as more than one hereditament (split) but there is no legal requirement to advise the Valuation Officer of this. The number of rating proposals made from 2000 in England and Wales to split is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of rating proposals 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 8,250 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 6,830 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 6,310 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 6,260 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 8,550 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 3,960 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 3,600 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 3,330 
			 Apr 2008 to March 2009 5,040 
			 April 2009 to February 2010 4,080 
			 Total 56,210 
			  Note: Figures rounded to nearest ten. 
		
	
	Rating list entries are also split as a direct result of information being supplied to the valuation officer by either the respective billing authority or by the valuation officer becoming aware of the need to alter an entry in the rating list. The number of reports made since 2000 in England and Wales by billing authorities is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of billing a uthority and VO reports to split 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 40,570 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 9,910 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 29,670 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 30,680 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 28,540 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 47,130 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 30,520 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 32,610 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 34,900 
			 April 2009 to February 2010 31,050 
			 Total 335,570 
			  Note: Figures rounded to the nearest ten.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency spent on administering the separate rating of port companies in each year since 1999; and how many of the agency's staff worked on such rating in each of those years.

Ian Pearson: The VOA does not keep records of expenditure on or the number of staff involved in the assessment of separate hereditaments within statutory ports going back to 1999. Staff involved in work on the ports undertake general rating work in other locations and work in other business streams.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 605W, on non-domestic rates, what the change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from rateable value appeals was in each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09.

Ian Pearson: To correspond with the answer of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 605W, the information provided is in respect of valid rating appeals received 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2009 and settled as at 30 June 2009.
	The period covers the:
	2000 Rating Lists-effective 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2005
	2005 Rating Lists-effective 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2010
	The compiled list statistics shows overall reduction in rateable value resulting from appeals against the compiled rating list entries, i.e. appeals challenging the original entries in the rating lists, effective from either 1 April 2000 or 1 April 2005.
	The column labelled others shows the reduction in rateable value resulting from all other appeals. These are appeals where circumstances have changed since the lists were compiled and the rating assessment requires amendment.
	
		
			Compiled List  Others 
			   Appeals r eceived in:  RV c hange (£000)  RV c hange (£000) 
			  1  2  4  6 
			 England 2004-05 -29,785 -538,362 
			 England 2005-06 -817,768 -390,510 
			 England 2006-07 -388,963 -549,049 
			 England 2007-08 -164,470 -522,566 
			 England 2008-09 -55,897 -348,893 
			 
			 Wales 2004-05 -954 -17,163 
			 Wales 2005-06 -33,391 -8,198 
			 Wales 2006-07 -8,805 -16,679 
			 Wales 2007-08 -4,357 -10,648 
			 Wales 2008-09 -1,032 -11,642 
			 
			 England and Wales 2004-05 -30,740 -555,525 
			 England and Wales 2005-06 -851,159 -398,708 
			 England and Wales 2006-07 -397,768 -565,728 
			 England and Wales 2007-08 -168,827 -533,214 
			 England and Wales 2008-09 -56,929 -360,535 
		
	
	The above figures were extracted from the Valuation Office Agency operational database.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hereditaments with rateable values over £50,000 in each local authority area are on the 2010 Rating List.

Ian Pearson: I have placed a table in the Library which sets out how many hereditaments in each local authority have a rateable value over £50,000.
	These data are consistent with the statistical release titled Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales published on 18 December 2009.
	A copy of this statistical release is available at the following link:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/VOA_Statistics_Release_Final.pdf

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average rateable value of hereditaments is in each local authority area.

Ian Pearson: I have placed a table in the Library which sets out the average rateable value in each local authority.
	These data are consistent with the statistical release titled Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales published on 18 December 2009.
	A copy of this statistical release is available at the following link:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/VOA_Statistics_Release_Final.pdf

Pakistan

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's itinerary for his recent official visit to Pakistan;
	(2)  whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's recent visit to Pakistan was wholly, exclusively and necessarily on Government business.

Liam Byrne: Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007-08 the list was expanded to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the purpose of the visit and the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2009-10 will be published as soon as it is available. All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code respectively.

Public Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010,  Official Report, column 803W, on Pre-Budget Report 2009, what estimate he has made of the value in cash terms of expenditure on  (a) consultancies and  (b) marketing and communications in 2009-10.

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010,  Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, for what reason the marketing and communications spend is to be reduced against a 2009-10 baseline and the consultancy spend is to be reduced according to a 2008-09 baseline.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over £11 billion of savings have now been identified by Department for the years from 2012-13. This includes the consultancy, marketing and communications cuts which were identified based on 2008-09 spending levels, currently the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside Budget.

Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 26 February 2010,  Official Report, column 806W, on public expenditure, what the reason is for the base year chosen to calculate savings on expenditure on  (a) consultancy and  (b) marketing and communications.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 announced that over £11 billion of savings have now been identified by Departments for the years from 2012-13. This includes over £650 million by 2012-13 from reducing departmental consultancy spend by 50 per cent. and departmental marketing and communications spend by 25 per cent. from 2008-09 spending levels. These spending levels were chosen because they are the most recent financial year that spending levels are available for. The 2008-09 spend is set out in the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey 2009, published alongside the Budget.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequentials are for Wales of the savings to be made by each Department following Budget 2010.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 March 2010
	 In Budget 2010 the Welsh Assembly Government received an additional £48 million in 2010-11 as Barnett consequentials of increases in spending of UK Departments. Budgets for 2011-12 onwards will be set in the next spending review in the usual way.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is available to the Welsh Assembly Government under the Barnett formula for financial year 2010-11.

Liam Byrne: Budget 2010 announced an increase of £48 million for the Welsh Assembly Government in 2010-11. The Welsh Assembly Government's budget plans for 2010-11 are set out in Table C11 of the Budget 2010 Report (HC 451). The final outturn for 2010-11 will not be known until spring 2011.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the consequential changes are to Government expenditure in Wales arising from the £11 billion savings announced by Government departments consequent on the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Liam Byrne: The departmental expenditure limits for the Welsh Assembly Government will be determined in the next spending review in the usual way.

Public Sector: Databases

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Operational Efficiency Programme, what discussions his Department has had with private sector organisations on the role of common electronic standards for data analysis and exchange of information in the management of the public sector estate.

Liam Byrne: Discussions have taken place last autumn between officials from the Office of Government Commerce and OSCRE (Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate, formerly known as PISCES). An electronic standard (Civil Estate Co-ordination Protocol) for the exchange of data within central Government is currently in place.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) average time taken for a call to be answered,  (b) average time spent waiting in a call queue,  (c) average call duration,  (d) number of unanswered calls,  (e) average response time for a return call and  (f) percentage of calls returned was in call centres operated by HM Revenue and Customs in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested, where available, is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   2007-08  2008-09  April 2009 to February 2010 
			 Average time for a call to be answered (mm:ss)(1) 01:26 01:57 01:29 
			 Average time spent waiting in a call queue(1) As above As above As above 
			 Average call duration (mm:ss)(2) 05:27 05:59 06:31 
			 Number of unanswered calls (Million)(3) 24.5 43.7 16.4 
			 (1) Defined as the time taken for a call to be answered by an adviser once a customer has selected an option from the call steering menu. (2) This includes the time the customer speaks to an adviser and any follow-up actions the adviser may need to take (e.g. updating customer's records). (3) Defined as the difference between the call attempts made to HMRC's telephone helplines and the call attempts answered by advisers, less calls answered with an automated message. 
		
	
	In July 2009 HM Revenue and Customs introduced a range of automated information messages on its helplines whose purpose includes enabling customers to gain the information they need without speaking to an adviser. From April 2009 to February 2010, five million calls had been handled in this way, helping to reduce the 'unanswered calls' to 16.4 million.
	HMRC's systems do not capture information on return calls.

Taxation: Domicile

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that UK nationals may not be non-domiciled for income tax purposes if evidence shows that to all intents and purposes the UK is their main residence;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the number of days spent in the UK for nationals who were non-domiciled for tax purposes.

Stephen Timms: The Government reformed the rules on the taxation of non-domiciled individuals in 2008 to make them fairer.
	An individual's liability to UK tax on their worldwide income and gains is linked to their residence and domicile status.
	Tax residence in part depends on the amount of time spent in the UK but the other connections an individual builds or maintains in the UK may also be significant.
	Domicile is a general law concept that is used for some tax purposes. It is separate to residence and does not depend on the number of days spent in the UK. Someone who is UK resident has significant connections to the UK, the current rules act to ensure that they make an appropriate contribution to the UK tax system.
	Further guidance is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/hmrc6.pdf

Taxation: Domicile

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of UK nationals who are non-domiciled for income tax purposes.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 March 2010
	No such estimate has been made. Individuals are not required to indicate whether they are UK nationals on their self-assessment tax return.

Taxation: Domicile

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss to the Exchequer arising from UK nationals who are non-domiciled for tax purposes in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 March 2010
	No such estimate has been made. Individuals, including those who are non-domiciled, are not required to declare any income and gains that are not taxable in the UK when completing their self-assessment tax return.

UK Membership of EC: West Midlands

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the economy of  (a) Birmingham and  (b) the West Midlands of the inclusion of the UK in the EU single market.

Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply.
	No estimate has been made in relation specifically to Birmingham or the West Midlands.
	The benefit of free trade across the EU is estimated to boost GDP by over 2 per cent. For the UK that equates to benefits of around £25-£30 billion a year.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 902W, on the Valuation Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the user guidance and manuals for the Valuation Office Agency's  (a) Digital Mapping User Guide,  (b) RSA Induction Workbook and  (c) Digital Photography User Guide, with information that could assist with unauthorised access redacted.

Ian Pearson: The Digital Mapping User Guide, RSA Induction Workbook and Digital Photography User Guide are technical instructions on the operation of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) internal IT applications. It is not appropriate to publish information which might assist unauthorised access to VOA systems or databases. The manuals have been written specifically to provide detail of accessing and operating these applications. Accordingly, it is not possible to redact only specific parts that could assist with unauthorised access.

Valuation Office Agency

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff  (a) there were and  (b) were made redundant from the Valuation Office Agency in each year since 1999; what efficiency savings the agency made in each of those years; and how much the agency spent on legal advice in each of those years.

Ian Pearson: For the number of staff in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA)  (a) I refer the hon. member to the answer given to him on 22 March 2010,  Official Report, column 75W and  (b) no staff have been made redundant since 1999.
	Under the current spending review period the income the VOA receives from its statutory clients has been reducing year on year by at least 5 per cent. per annum, in 2010-11 the current assumptions are that the VOA income will reduce from clients by a range of 5 per cent. to 13 per cent. These savings are counted as efficiency savings for the departments providing funding to the VOA to avoid double counting.
	Nevertheless the VOA tracks its efficiency record and using the HM Treasury basis for calculating these the efficiencies delivered in the current spending round are £13.3 million in 2008-09 increasing to a planned £24.0 million in 2009-10 (these figures are cumulative). In addition the VOA has completed the Revaluation 2010 project across England and Wales at no additional costs to the taxpayer whilst maintaining its performance targets creating a further efficiency of £52 million-a total of approximately £76 million.
	In addition, as part of its commitment to value for money the VOA has also committed to £15 million savings in the Operational Efficiency programme over the next three years.
	The VOA publishes its legal services costs in its annual report and accounts to Parliament and a copy for each financial year is available in the Library. From 2000 an electronic copy is available on the VOA's website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Solicitors advice is provided under a service level agreement, the fee for which is included within the service charge payment to HMRC. Counsel's opinion is obtained for the VOA via HMRC Solicitors and charged back to the agency together with other disbursements such as lodging and hearing fees, and any costs awarded against the VOA.
	It is not possible to identify the element purely attributed to legal advice without incurring disproportionate costs.

Valuation Office Agency: Contracts

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010,  Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, what expenditure his Department incurred with  (a) the Whitehall and Industry Group,  (b) the Public and Commercial Services Union,  (c) Prospect (ex IPMS),  (d) Propaganda and  (e) Making Change Happen in 2008-09; what goods and services were procured in each case; and what the purpose was of each such procurement.

Ian Pearson: Expenditure incurred by the Valuation Office Agency was as follows:
	 (a) Attendance for delegates at the Whitehall and Industry conferences in June and December 2008 and fees in recruiting non executive directors for the agency were £10,089.
	 (b) and  (c) None. Payments to trade unions such as the Public and Commercial Services Union and Prospect represent subscriptions from staff who are members of those unions. The agency deducts these fees as part of its payroll processes and pays them to the unions on behalf of those staff who are members. As such this is not agency expenditure.
	 (d) Marketing material at the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation conference, cost £475.
	 (e) Training material for performance and coaching, in relation to Making Change Happen in 2008-09, cost £352.

Valuation Office Agency: Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bonuses have been awarded to each board member and director of the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last three years.

Ian Pearson: To provide this information would require the personal consent of all individual board members. Some of these individuals are no longer with the agency. To obtain all the necessary consents would incur disproportionate cost. Remuneration information for board members is detailed in the VOA annual report and accounts.

Valuation Office Agency: Visits Abroad

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1629-30W, on the Valuation Office: overseas visits, what overseas visits representatives of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have undertaken in the last 12 months; what the  (a) purpose,  (b) destination and  (c) cost was of each such visit; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each (i) presentation made and (ii) handout distributed by VOA staff at each overseas conference attended in the last 12 months.

Ian Pearson: During the last 12 months staff from the Valuation Office Agency have visited the following locations:
	
		
			  (a) Purpose  (b) Destination  (c) Cost (£)  (d) Handout/Presentations 
			 Speaker at International Property Tax Institute South Africa 2,875 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 6 May 2009,  Official Report, column 178W 
			 
			 Speaker at Joint IRRV/IPTI International Conference Poland 561 A copy of the presentation will be placed in the Library 
			 
			 Expert Witness at Lands Tribunal Hong Kong 168 None 
			 
			 Participant at NSG Top Management Programme India 519 None 
			 
			 Speaker at European Valuation Standards Conference Poland 73 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 6 May 2009,  Official Report, column 179W 
			 
			 Attendee at Joint workshop on Cadastral Systems, Inspire Implementation and E-signature and Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Committee on Cadastre in the European Union Prague 474 None

Written Questions: Government Responses

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 305530, tabled by the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge on 4 December 2009, on alcohol and entertainment.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have now replied to the hon. Member and apologise for the delay in doing so.

HEALTH

Blood

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that haemophilia patients will not be required to switch blood products as a consequence of the outcome of his Department's recent tendering exercise in respect of blood products.

Gillian Merron: Patients with haemophilia are no longer generally treated with products manufactured from human plasma (blood products). Almost all are now treated with recombinant (biosynthetic) factor VIII. It is expected that about 50 per cent. of patients will change from one brand of recombinant product to another, following the tendering exercise.
	Some small children with haemophilia will not change products either because they have always been treated with the same brand or because they are having treatment for a factor VIII inhibitor. Patients have now been notified by their haemophilia centres of the proposal to either change their brand or to continue to prescribe the brand that they are already receiving and to invite them to consult the centre if they have any concerns.
	The tender has taken place with the full support and active involvement of the Haemophilia Society representing patients and the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation (UKHCDO). UKHCDO have advised that all of the available brands of recombinant products are equally safe and effective.

Breast Cancer: Ethnic Groups

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what models his Department uses to assess prevalence of breast cancer by ethnic minority grouping.

Ann Keen: We do not hold information on the prevalence of breast cancer by ethnic minority grouping. However, we are working on models to allow us to assess prevalence by ethnic minority grouping.

Cancer: Health Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which cancer centres are located in a hospital building without the ancillary services of an acute hospital;
	(2)  which gynaecological cancer centres are located within  (a) a maternity hospital and  (b) an acute hospital;
	(3)  which gynaecological cancer centres lack an on-site intensive therapy unit (ITU); and whether he plans to relocate any such centres to hospitals which do have an on-site ITU.

Ann Keen: Information concerning the location of cancer centres within hospital buildings is not collected centrally.
	Decisions regarding the placement of cancer centres are the responsibility of local national health service hospital trusts and primary care trusts and are made in conjunction with cancer networks and other stakeholders.

Cancer: Waiting Lists

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time was that patients in Merseyside waited for the start of treatment for ovarian cancer in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Civil Servants

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which senior civil servants in his Department left to take up jobs in the for-profit or not-for-profit healthcare sector in the last two years.

Phil Hope: The Department does not hold records on the employment of former staff after they leave the Department.
	Rules on civil servants taking up outside business appointments are published in the Civil Service Management Code (section 4.3) which can be found at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx
	Section 4.3 annex A contains the full guidance on accepting outside business appointments. The Department complies fully with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code in ensuring adherence to the business appointments procedure.
	These rules are also referred to in the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, available at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/civil_service_guidance.aspx
	Standard employment contracts for all senior civil servants refer to the rules on outside business appointments.

Dementia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he has received on his Department's most recent dementia awareness campaign in the last six months.

Phil Hope: Information about the number of letters of correspondence on the information campaign is not collected centrally.

Dental Services: Bognor Regis

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons dentists at the Maywood Surgery and Flansham Park Surgery in Bognor Regis were not invited to bid for the contract to provide dental services in the Bognor Regis area.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning dental services to meet the needs of their population.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The Department and its agencies spent the following on rooms provided for staff leisure in the last five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 253,550 
			 2006-07 266,000 
			 2007-08 285,590 
			 2008-09 230,590 
			 2009-10 267,070 
		
	
	These are the full costs of providing these rooms and have been calculated and based on a square metre percentage of the overall costs for the buildings where leisure facilities are available.
	The response covers the Department's central administrative London estate of Richmond house, Wellington house and Skipton house, the properties of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority.
	The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam house (HM Revenue and Customs) and Quarry house in Leeds (Department for Work and Pensions) and the data for these sites are not available to us.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Phil Hope: There are gym facilities in two of the Department's buildings-Skipton house in London and Quarry house in Leeds. Staff who are members of HASSRA, the sports and social association for staff working in the Department and its Executive agencies can access these facilities. HASSRA owns the gym equipment in Skipton house and the gym is run by club members. HASSRA does not own the gym at Quarry house, which is run by a private company.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Like most organisations, the Department has a rolling refurbishment programme. It is not possible to identify separately, in all cases, the elements within this programme that relate to interior design, because it is often commissioned by the main contractor responsible for carrying out the refurbishment.
	In the last five years, the Department employed interior designers directly on two occasions. This was in financial year 2005-06, at a total cost of £94,251.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Phil Hope: The Department is currently looking at the feasibility of installing voltage optimisers across the Department's London estate as part of our Carbon Management Programme to reduce energy consumption.
	There are no equivalent technologies used within buildings occupied by the Department in its central administrative estate which consists of Richmond house, London SW1A, Wellington house, London SE1, and Skipton house, London SE1. The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam house, London SE1 (a HM Revenue and Customs building) and Quarry house in Leeds LS2 (a Department for Work and Pensions building).

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Phil Hope: In line with DEFRA guidance regarding sustainable development and animal welfare issues, the Department of Health works with its catering and hospitality suppliers to ensure that they abide by the highest standards of animal welfare in their food procurement policy.
	Quadrant Catering and Eurest Services provide staff restaurant and hospitality catering for Department of Health staff and are both part of Compass Group United Kingdom and Ireland, one of the United Kingdom's largest contract caterers, who have an excellent record in ethical food procurement.

Departmental Furniture

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has incurred expenditure on antique furniture in the last five years.

Phil Hope: No expenditure has been incurred by the Department on antique furniture in the last five years.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department received the following number of complaints regarding difficulties operating the Department's website in each of the last three years.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2009-10(1) 262 
			 2008-09 255 
			 2007-08 349 
			 (1) Figures for March 2010 are not yet available.

Departmental Internet

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department operates two main websites:
	1. The Department's corporate website
	www.dh.gov.uk
	2. NHS Choices
	www.nhs.uk
	For the Department's corporate website, the following amounts have been spent on external website design consultancy:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 34,250.00 
			 2008-09 6,748.19 
			 2009-10 9,949.00 
		
	
	NHS Choices development and delivery is provided through an outsourced contract. From June 2007 to November 2008 this was provided through Doctor Foster Intelligence. Since November 2008, this has been provided by Capita. The overall contract value for Capita for the design, development and delivery of the NHS Choices digital service is £60 million over three years.
	It is not possible to disaggregate specific website design elements from this contract as they are inherent in the improvement and delivery of the overall service.
	Since 27 June 2007 the Department has reduced the total number of websites that it operates from 196 to 71, to meet its obligations under Transformational Government. The Department will continue to reduce this number to just two websites by the Cabinet Office deadline of July 2011.
	Given the high number of websites that were in existence between March 2007 and January 2010, it is not possible to provide information on costs for all of these, as this would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what  (a) the cost and  (b) purpose of each such event was.

Phil Hope: The Department is unable to provide information on the five most expensive events hosted by the Department and its agencies, where hospitality has been offered, as this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's Code of Business Conduct states that a blanket ban on accepting or providing hospitality is neither practical nor desirable from a business point of view.
	However, there must be a real business benefit to providing or accepting hospitality, as public money must not be used to fund occasions such as social gatherings, retirement or office parties.
	This is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1399W, on home care services: finance, what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on  (a) administration and  (b) management consultants in 2009-10.

Phil Hope: The Department's administration budget does not meet all the costs of administering major programmes funded from the Department's central budgets.
	The Department's administration budget for 2009-10 was set out in the spring supplementary estimates at £218 million. The spring supplementary estimates are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/springsupps0910_doh.pdf
	Data on the estimated spend by the Department on management consultants for 2009-10 are not available in the format requested. Information for the full year 2009-2010 will be published in due course, after it has been validated.

Departmental Sick Leave

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sick days were taken by staff of his Department in each month of each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: Providing an analysis of sickness absence by individual months for the last 13 years would incur disproportionate cost.
	For the 12 months ending 30 June 2009, the core Department's average reported working days lost per person was 4.8 days. This is one of the lowest rates in Government. The civil service average for the same period was 8.7 days.
	However, the Department continues to give this issue the importance it deserves and the Department's human resources division has policies and procedures in place to help manage and support the response to sickness absence.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential places were available for drug rehabilitation of under 18-year-olds in England in each year since 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Information is not held centrally about the number of residential places available across the country that are able to support young people with substance misuse and other complex needs.
	For the vast majority of young people under 18 community-based services are the most appropriate option. In addition, local authorities can arrange a package of support that combines specialist drug treatment with specialist children's home, fostering places or other supported accommodation.

Family Nurse Partnership Programme

Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the original 2007 pilots of the family nurse partnerships; and which of those pilots is planned to be developed for wider implementation.

Ann Keen: The original 10 Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) test sites are currently being evaluated by Birkbeck college, university of London. The second year report of the evaluation suggests that the programme is being delivered well; that it is successful in engaging the most vulnerable clients, who value it highly; and that it is also successful in engaging fathers. The evaluation also points to early signs that clients cope better with pregnancy, labour and parenthood, have aspirations for the future and that FNP is having a positive effect on reducing smoking during pregnancy and increasing rates of breastfeeding.
	The learning from the evaluation and from other learning and development projects in these 10 sites has been invaluable and is being used more widely as we expand and develop FNP in this country. Approximately 4,000 families have benefited from FNP to date, and we are currently working with over 50 sites.
	Clients in the original 10 sites are reaching the end of the FNP programme. Expansion in these sites is a decision for local commissioners, but nine sites have started to recruit a new cohort of clients and have expanded their teams. Eight of these sites are also now participating in a randomised controlled trial of FNP, along with 10 newer test sites, which will report in 2013.

General Practitioners: Primary Care Trusts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from general practitioners on their funding from primary care trusts.

Mike O'Brien: The Department and NHS Employers (responsible for negotiating the general practitioner (GP) contract on the Departments behalf) are in regular dialogue with the General Practitioner Committee (GPC) negotiating arm of the British Medical Association (BMA) regarding funding issues to the GP contract.
	Most recent representations involved my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State contacting the chairs of both the BMA and GPC personally regarding his ministerial statement of 10 February 2010 on his recommendations to the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists' remuneration award review for 2010.

Health Services: Armed Forces

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-16WS, on medical care (veterans), what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of extending to all veterans the undertaking of an entitlement to receive from the NHS an equivalent standard of prosthetic limb to those provided by Defence Medical Services; and what standards apply to prosthetic limbs provided by  (a) the NHS to members of the public and  (b) Defence Medical Services to military personnel.

Mike O'Brien: The current operating framework for the NHS requires commissioners to take account of military personnel, their families and veterans when commissioning services in their area. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice based commissioners, local government and the public to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic services for former service personnel.
	The provision of a prosthetic limb is not the only factor that influences an amputee's quality of life and acceptance of ability. Psychological, social, co-morbidity, age, and clinical service all contribute to an individual's quality of life and use of the prostheses. The provision of prosthetic care and services is undertaken by a multidisciplinary clinical and assessment team to ensure that the type and standard of a particular prostheses is clinically appropriate for an individual.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-British residents received NHS treatment in North West Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes where the strategic health authority (SHA) of residence was recorded as Foreign (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) or Northern Ireland and the primary care trust (PCT) of main provider was Cambridgeshire PCT in years 1999-2000 to 2005-06 and 2007-08 to 2008-09. Years 2006-07 and 1998-99 are unfortunately unavailable as the PCT of main provider field in HES has poor data quality in these years.
	
		
			   Total admission episodes 
			 2008-09 282 
			 2007-08 349 
			 2006-07 n/a 
			 2005-06 330 
			 2004-05 248 
			 2003-04 214 
			 2002-03 184 
			 2001-02 208 
			 2000-01 277 
			 1999-2000 255 
			 1998-99 n/a 
			  Notes: 1. This is not a count of patients as some patients may have been admitted more than once within the year. 2. In 2006-07 there was a merger of East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT, Huntingdonshire PCT, Cambridge City PCT, South Cambridgeshire PCT and 36 per cent. of South Peterborough PCT to form Cambridgeshire PCT. Therefore years 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not directly comparable to previous years. Where there were no records of admissions where the SHA of residence was foreign or Northern Ireland at one of the PCTs of main provider, the PCT has not been included in the breakdown.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the cost of treating non-British residents on the NHS in North West Cambridgeshire constituency was recovered by charging the patient or the insurer in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows income recovered from overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements, 2003-04 to 2008-09.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Organisation  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust 29 0 0 0 108 51 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust 217 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 74 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridge City PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Cambridgeshire and Fenland PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Cambridgeshire PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Peterborough PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 320 0 0 0 108 51 
			  Notes: 1. For Cambridgeshire PCT and Peterborough PCT, the data prior to 2006-07 are the sum of the predecessor PCTs that were merged to form the new PCTs in October 2006. 2. The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided is only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust. 3.North West Cambridgeshire constituency is also served by the following NHS foundation trusts-in these cases we have provided data up to the point that they achieved FT status: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in July 2004, therefore no data exists after the 2004-05 financial year. The 2004-05 figure represents only the part of the year the organisation operated as a NHS trust. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in June 2008, therefore the 2008-09 figure represents only the part of the year the organisation operated as a NHS trust. Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This organisation achieved FT status in April 2004, therefore no data exist after the 2003-04 financial year. 4. In common with many other public and private sector organisations the Department only holds accounting data at organisation level for seven years, and therefore data are available only for the financial years 2002-03 to 2008-09. 5. Income from overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements was not separately identified in the 2002-03 summarisation schedules and cannot be disaggregated from other income figures.  Source: Audited summarisation schedules 2003-04 to 2008-09.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating non-British residents in North West Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. Data would be held by local national health service organisations if collected.

Health Visitors

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors there were in each primary care trust area in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the numbers requested.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Health Visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust as at 30 September each year 
			  Headcount 
			2008  2009 
			 England  11,190 10,859 
			 
			  North East Coast Strategic Health Authority area - 646 609 
			 County Durham PCT 5ND 9 4 
			 Darlington PCT 5J9 170 176 
			 Gateshead PCT 5KF 44 42 
			 Hartlepool PCT 5D9 14 0 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 5KM 0 0 
			 Newcastle PCT 5D7 85 76 
			 North Tyneside PCT 5D8 57 51 
			 Northumberland Care Trust TAC 59 46 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 5QR 55 48 
			 South Tyneside PCT 5KG 47 47 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 5E1 37 0 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 5KL 66 69 
			 
			  North West Strategic Health Authority area - 1,838 1,794 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 5HG 103 110 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 5CC 57 48 
			 Blackpool PCT 5HP 61 60 
			 Bolton PCT 5HQ 76 71 
			 Bury PCT 5JX 52 52 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 5NP 96 • 100 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 5NG 101 96 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 5NE 110 109 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 5NH 99 93 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 5NM 71 59 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 5NQ 78 67 
			 Knowsley PCT 5J4 54 36 
			 Liverpool PCT 5NL 103 132 
			 Manchester PCT 5NT 125 124 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 5NF 89 86 
			 Oldham PCT 5J5 51 54 
			 Salford PCT 5F5 40 37 
			 Sefton PCT 5NJ 56 61 
			 Stockport PCT 5F7 81 70 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 5LH 68 60 
			 Trafford PCT 5NR 52 54 
			 Warrington PCT 5J2 50 55 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 5NN 64 58 
			 Wirral PCT 5NK 83 86 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority - 1,256 1,214 
			 Barnsley PCT 5JE 60 53 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 5NY 152 147 
			 Bradford District Care Trust TAD 0 0 
			 Calderdale PCT 5J6 61 63 
			 Doncaster PCT 5N5 92 78 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 5NW 68 66 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 5NX 77 71 
			 Kirklees PCT 5N2 80 98 
			 Leeds PCT 5N1 158 155 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus TAN 44 39 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 5EF 37 38 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 5NV 147 127 
			 Rotherham PCT 5H8 61 50 
			 Sheffield PCT 5N4 125 125 
			 Wakefield District PCT 5N3 88 96 
			 
			  East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area - 899 957 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 5ET 20 17 
			 Derby City PCT 5N7 63 48 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 5N6 172 161 
			 Leicester City PCT 5PC 75 71 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 5PA 103 93 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 5N9 140 138 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 5PD 122 248 
			 Nottingham City PCT 5EM 91 85 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 5N8 110 93 
			 
			  West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area - 1,235 1,186 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 5PG 93 97 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 5MD 48 47 
			 Dudley PCT 5PE 75 73 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 5MX 75 71 
			 Herefordshire PCT 5CN 30 24 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 5PH 46 55 
			 Sandwell PCT 5PF 72 56 
			 Shropshire County PCT 5M2 53 45 
			 Solihull Care Trust TAM 59 56 
			 South Birmingham PCT 5M1 70 72 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 5PK 132 134 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 5PJ 87 80 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 5MK 41 43 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 5M3 52 40 
			 Warwickshire PCT 5PM 107 101 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 5MV 59 62 
			 Worcestershire PCT 5PL 132 128 
			 
			  East of England Strategic Health Authority area - 1,069 991 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 5P2 83 80 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 5PP 59 78 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 5P3 107 105 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 5PR 42 28 
			 Luton PCT 5GC 43 41 
			 Mid Essex PCT 5PX 56 51 
			 Norfolk PCT 5PQ 132 128 
			 North East Essex PCT 5PW 46 45 
			 Peterborough PCT 5PN 50 43 
			 South East Essex PCT 5P1 62 55 
			 South West Essex PCT 5PY 94 68 
			 Suffolk PCT 5PT 117 106 
			 West Essex PCT 5PV 53 47 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 5P4 112 105 
			 
			  London Strategic Health Authority area - 1,577 1,513 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 24 14 
			 Barnet PCT 5A9 31 39 
			 Bexley Care Trust TAK 59 50 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 5K5 41 41 
			 Bromley PCT 5A7 80 82 
			 Camden PCT 5K7 32 27 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 5C3 50 47 
			 Croydon PCT 5K9 70 63 
			 Ealing PCT 5HX 64 57 
			 Enfield PCT 5C1 46 44 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 5A8 52 42 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 69 65 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 5C9 7 2 
			 Harrow PCT 5K6 45 36 
			 Havering PCT 5A4 36 81 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 56 55 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 37 36 
			 Islington PCT 5K8 31 33 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5LA 30 38 
			 Kingston PCT 5A5 26 32 
			 Lambeth PCT 5LD 45 34 
			 Lewisham PCT 5LF 82 93 
			 Newham PCT 5C5 36 44 
			 Redbridge PCT 5C8 42 40 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 40 32 
			 Southwark PCT 5LE 100 74 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 95 97 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 52 62 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 5NC 50 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 5LG 57 55 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 56 55 
			 
			  South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area - 769 764 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 5P7 70 58 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 5QA 148 160 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 5P8 40 35 
			 Medway PCT 5L3 58 49 
			 Surrey PCT 5P5 163 159 
			 West Kent PCT 5P9 91 89 
			 West Sussex PCT 5P6 119 133 
			 
			  South Central Strategic Health Authority area - 784 758 
			 Berkshire East PCT 5QG 78 71 
			 Berkshire West PCT 5QF 87 81 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 5QD 103 107 
			 Hampshire PCT 5QC 192 168 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 5QT 19 18 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 5CQ 58 60 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 5QE 157 134 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 5FE 48 47 
			 Southampton City PCT 5L1 42 72 
			 
			  South West Strategic Health Authority area - 1,117 1,073 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 5FL 43 41 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 5QN 78 74 
			 Bristol PCT 5QJ 123 10 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 5QP 109 101 
			 Devon PCT 5QQ 116 89 
			 Dorset PCT 5QM 89 84 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 5QH 134 131 
			 North Somerset PCT 5M8 39 41 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 5F1 70 67 
			 Somerset PCT 5QL 101 122 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 5A3 52 51 
			 Swindon PCT 5K3 35 31 
			 Torbay Care Trust TAL 26 31 
			 Wiltshire PCT 5QK 96 93 
			  Notes: 1. England and Strategic Health Authority area totals include a small number of staff employed by NHS trusts. Year on year organisation level health visitor figures may fluctuate due to the migration of staff and services between organisations. 2. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census

Home Care Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Personal Care at Home Bill's compliance with the new burdens doctrine for local authorities.

Phil Hope: As with all policies and programmes, the Government are committed to assessing the costs to local authorities of the Personal Care at Home Bill. The Bill will be funded through a combination of additional grant and from local authority efficiency savings. It will not now be introduced until April 2011.
	It is right to expect councils to play their part alongside central Government to help deliver this new commitment. We believe that councils have room to use efficiency savings because:
	The costs of delivering local services are now much lower, with recent low levels of inflation and affordable pay settlements;
	The Budget 2010 announced new measures to free-up local resources through reducing burdens and targets and reductions in ring-fencing; and
	We have provided record investment in local government, with local authorities receiving £8.6 billion more over the current Spending Review period.

Hospitals: Manpower

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses were employed in the NHS in each hospital in North West Cambridgeshire constituency (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The number of doctors and nurses employed in NHS hospitals in Cambridgeshire in 1997 and 2009 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): doctors and nurses within specified organisations 
			  Number (Headcount) 
			   As at 30 September each year 
			   1997  2009 
			  Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust   
			 HCHS Doctors 614 1,263 
			 Nurses 1,814 3,028 
			
			  Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust   
			 HCHS Doctors 152 169 
			 Nurses 673 601 
			
			  Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust   
			 HCHS Doctors 285 416 
			 Nurses 1,026 1,189 
			  Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental workforce census and the NHS Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census y challenge.

Hospitals: Mortality Rates

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will request the Care Quality Commission to investigate the reasons for the hospital standardised mortality ratio in 2007-08 at hospitals in  (a) Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust,  (b) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (c) Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (d) Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (e) Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust,  (f) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust,  (g) Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (h) Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust,  (i) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust,  (j) James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (k) Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust,  (l) Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (m) Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust,  (n) Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust,  (o) North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust,  (p) Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust,  (q) Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,  (r) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  (s) Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust,  (t) Stockport NHS Foundation Trust,  (u) Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,  (v) United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust,  (w) University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust,  (x) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and  (y) Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

Mike O'Brien: From 1 April, national health service providers of regulated activities are required by law to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and assessed against a set of 16 safety and quality requirements. CQC has, therefore, recently scrutinised the registration applications of all NHS trusts in the country.
	In December 2009, CQC conducted a regional review of all trusts identified as having high hospital standardised mortality ratios and considered this information as part of the registration process for every trust, alongside other data.
	Where CQC does not have sufficient evidence of compliance with the requirements, it can impose conditions on the trust's registration, to force it to improve essential levels of quality and safety within timescales specified by CQC.
	Once trusts are registered, CQC continues to look at their mortality rates and will continuously monitor compliance with the essential safety and quality requirements, as part of the new system of regulation.

Hospitals: Parking

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to NHS hospital trusts on charging their staff to park in trust car parks; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has issued guidance to the national health service on the operation of controlled car parking schemes 'Income Generation: Car Parking Charges-Best Practice for Implementation', a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	This guidance provides general advice on factors that should be considered when establishing a policy for staff car parking, but recognises that specific decisions need to be taken at a local level.

Hospitals: Security

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual cost of security staff in NHS hospitals in Shropshire has been in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what percentage of security cameras at Shropshire NHS hospitals were found to be faulty in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. However, it should be available direct from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, and South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Influenza

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statements of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, column 40WS, on pandemic flu and 22 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 11-12WS, on departmental expenditure limits and administration cost limits (2009-10), for what reasons there was a transfer  (a) of £200 million from his Department's capital budget to its revenue budget to meet existing commitments on pandemic flu and  (b) of £100 million from his Department's revenue budget to its capital budget to meet existing commitments on pandemic flu.

Mike O'Brien: The £200 million transfer from the Department's capital budget to its revenue budget was based on the information available on pandemic flu commitments at the time of the Spring Parliamentary Estimate exercise.
	Since the Spring Parliamentary exercise, the Department has finalised the budgeting and accounting treatment of pandemic flu commitments and consequently undertook the transfer of £100 million from the revenue budget to the capital budget.
	These transfers do not change the overall funding is available to the Department.

Injuries: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of  (a) broken bones,  (b) lacerations,  (c) fractures and  (d) sprains that were diagnosed in respect of patients in each age group in hospitals in (i) Easingwold and (ii) North Yorkshire during the Christmas and new year period of 2009-10.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. Hospital episode statistics for accident and emergency attendances, during the month of December 2009, for dislocation, fracture, joint injury, amputation, laceration and sprain as well as ligament injury are due to be published on 9 April 2010. Statistics for January 2010 are due to be published on 11 May 2010.

Mental Health Services: Advocacy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 125-6W, on mental health services: advocacy, how frequently information on the availability and accessibility of independent mental health advocates in hospitals which detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 will be collected and published; and in which quarter he expects the annual report of the Care Quality Commission to be laid before Parliament.

Phil Hope: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the new integrated regulator for health and adult social care from 1 April 2009. They have told us that:
	the implementation of independent mental health advocacy is of particular interest to them;
	the availability and accessibility of advocacy will be a standard question asked on all of their regular visits to hospitals from 1 April 2010;
	the results will be reflected in annual statements on every hospital (in the independent sector) or trust (in the national health service) that they visit and that these statements will be published on the CQC website towards the end of each calendar year; and
	a CQC report containing initial findings on the implementation of independent mental health advocacy in 2009-10 is planned for publication in October 2010.

NHS

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which  (a) primary care trust area and  (b) parliamentary constituency each NHS acute trust is located.

Mike O'Brien: This information is not held centrally. NHS trusts provide a range of services from a number of locations.
	Information on constituencies served by primary care trusts is available on the Department's website at:
	www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on each programme funded from its centrally-managed budget in each year since 1997-98; and how much his Department plans to spend on each programme it plans to fund from its centrally-managed budget in 2010-11; and how much such planned expenditure on each planned programme  is (a) committed and  (b) uncommitted.

Phil Hope: It would be at disproportionate cost for the Department to list expenditure from each individual central budget programme for the years in question due to the very large number of budgets and several departmental reorganisations.
	2010-11 central budget programme plans have not yet been finalised. The Department does not report their central budgets on a committed/not-committed basis.
	While the detailed (by programme) expenditure is not readily available, we do routinely publish planned expenditure for centrally managed budgets in the annual departmental report publication. The following table provides departmental report references for this expenditure.
	
		
			  Table 1: Departmental report table references (figure numbers) for published figures on three areas of centrally managed budgets( 1) 
			   Centrally funded initiatives and services and special allocation (CFISSA)  Central health and miscellaneous services (CHMS)  Personal social services (PSS) provision for adults 
			 1996 (1997-99) Annex A Annex A Annex A 
			 1999 4.8 Annex B-Fig B1 5.1 
			 2000 11.6 11.14 11.15 
			 2001 6.6 6.13 6.14 
			 2003 6.6 6.12 6.13 
			 2004 6.6 6.12 6.13 
			 2005 6.9 6.13 6.14 
			 2006 6.9 6.16 6.17 
			 2007 9.21 9.22 9.28 
			 2008 9.18 9.19 9.28 
			 2009 5.1 5.1 5.1 
			 (1) Three areas include: Centrally Funded Initiatives and Services and Special Allocation(CFISSA); Central Health and Miscellaneous Services (CHMS); and Personal Social Services (PSS) provision for adults (PSS) 
		
	
	Aggregated expenditure for the centrally managed budgets from 1997-98 to 2008-09 is contained in the operating cost statement in each year of the Department's Resource Accounts publication. However, these data do not show the expenditure by detailed programme. We are planning on making the equivalent 2009-10 expenditure data available in July 2010.

NHS: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for the use of models of risk prediction for the NHS Health Check.

Ann Keen: The NHS Health Check programme is a universal and systematic programme for everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 that will assess individuals' risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes and will support people to reduce or manage that risk through individually tailored advice. The programme was developed on the basis of advice from the National Screening Committee, is based on guidance produced by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and is both cost effective and clinically effective.
	The risk assessment stage of the NHS Health Check uses a risk engine to calculate a person's 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. Evidence on cardiovascular risk estimation has developed considerably, with a number of risk engines available, including Framingham and QRISK. These have been calibrated to reflect risk factors within specific populations, such as ethnicity, and a number of scientific reviews have been published on their validity. The Department takes its advice from NICE on matters such as which risk engines are most appropriate for the national health service to use. NICE has recently revised its guidance to allow the NHS to decide locally which risk engine best predicts risk for their population mix.
	Of equal importance however is that people are given individually tailored advice and the necessary follow up which is suitable for their particular circumstances to help them manage or reduce their risk. The advice, interventions and follow-up that are offered will involve professional judgment and will help ensure that everyone's individual needs are met.

Nurses: Schools

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2010,  Official Report, column 806W, on nurses: schools, to how many school clusters in England a school nurse is allocated.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local authorities, strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and to commission services accordingly.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative party and  (b) Liberal Democrat party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1044W.

Prosthetics: Health Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department collects on  (a) demographic,  (b) diagnosis and  (c) treatment information held at prosthetics service centres in England; and whether there are plans to replace the National Amputee Statistical Database.

Phil Hope: Between 1997 and 2007 the National Amputee Statistical Database collected data from a number of providers using its minimum dataset which contained fields such as:
	Patient Number;
	Date of Birth;
	Commissioning Code;
	Centre Code;
	Gender;
	Category of patient;
	Ethnic Origin;
	Date of Referral following Amputation;
	Date of Amputation;
	Level of Amputation; and
	Cause of Amputation (Aetiology).
	There are no plans at present to replace the database.
	Health Episodes Statistics which collates data on the care provided by national health service hospitals and for NHS hospital patients treated elsewhere does not include any data on application of prosthesis as this rarely occurs in a hospital setting.
	Health Episodes Statistics does measure in-patient amputations using the OPCS classification of Interventions and Procedures. When combined with other data from the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set (age, sex, postcode, ethnicity, diagnosis), Health Episodes Statistics can be used to retrieve a great deal of the amputation data previously provided by National Amputee Statistical Database.
	Comprehensive central data are not collected about the numbers of people with prostheses or the number of prostheses that are supplied.

Radiotherapy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's press release of 18 August 2009 on proton therapy services, what progress his Department is making in identifying possible providers of proton therapy treatment for NHS patients in England; what estimate he has made of the maximum annual number of patients who could be treated at a proton therapy treatment centre; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We are currently evaluating bids to identify a shortlist of potential providers of proton beam therapy (PBT) services in England. The project team will then work with those trusts to develop a full business case by the end of 2010. We estimate that 1,500 patients could benefit from PBT per annum.

Radiotherapy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, in which countries the patients for whom proton therapy treatment was commissioned in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10 were treated.

Ann Keen: In 2008-09 patients were treated in France and Switzerland.
	In 2009-10 patients were treated in France, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Radiotherapy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, which individuals sit on the proton reference panel.

Ann Keen: The following sit on the panel. Not all members are involved in clinical decisions on the referral of patients abroad for treatment.
	Dr. Adrian Crellin, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. James's Institute of Oncology. Chairman-NCG National Reference Panel.
	Professor Roger Taylor, Clinical Director Cancer Services, ABM University Health Board, Professor of Clinical Oncology, Swansea Clinical School.
	Donna Routsis, Lead Research Radiographer, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.
	Dr. Neil Burnet, Consultant Oncologist, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.
	Dr. Nicola Thorp, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
	Professor Bleddyn Jones, Director, Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology University of Oxford.
	Dr. Susan Short, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Oncology, University College Hospital London.
	Dr. Daniel Ford, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
	Dr. Michelle Kwok-Williams, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. James's Institute of Oncology.
	Dr. Edmund Jessop, Medical Advisor, National Commissioning Group.
	Sarah Watson, Senior Commissioning Manager National Commissioning Group.

Radiotherapy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, what the average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad was in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and what the total cost of such treatment was in each such year.

Ann Keen: The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2008-09 was £28,000. This figure relates to the treatment of six patients at a total cost of £168,000.
	The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2009-10 was £62,000. This figure relates to the treatment of 26 patients at a total cost of £1,600,000. These figures are taken from draft accounts which have yet to be finalised.
	The increase in average cost in 2009-10 over 2008-09 relates to patients being treated in the United States of America for the first time in 2009-10.

Shropshire

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what official visits  (a) he and  (b) his predecessors have made to Shropshire in the last five years.

Phil Hope: The Department holds records of visits dating back three years. Since 2007, the Secretary of State for Health has not visited Shropshire.

Social Services: Cambridgeshire

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for adult social care in Cambridgeshire; and what methodology was used to calculate the estimate of the cost of providing such care for a person in Cambridgeshire of £103 a week.

Phil Hope: Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) assess peoples' eligibility for social care services according to statutory guidance, issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, entitled Fair Access to Care Services-guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, which was issued in 2003. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
	Fair Access to Care Services is shortly to be replaced by new statutory guidance, Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care, which was published on 25 February 2010 and will take effect from 1 April 2010. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	Data on the number of adults aged 18 and over receiving social care services funded by CASSRs are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care as part of the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return.
	The table shows the number of service users aged 18 and over receiving social care services in Cambridgeshire in 2008-09 by service category.
	
		
			  Number of service users receiving social care services in Cambridgeshire, 2008-09( 1)  Cambridgeshire 
			  Type of service  Number of clients (rounded numbers) 
			 Residential care 2,075 
			 Nursing care 930 
			 Community based Services(3, 4) 12,775 
			  Of which:  
			 Day Care 2,465 
			 Direct Payments 645 
			 Equipment and adaptations 4,915 
			 Home Care 6,165 
			 Meals 260 
			 Other 555 
			 Professional support 2,020 
			 Short term residential, not respite 30 
			 Total number of clients receiving services(2) 15,130 
			 (1) Data for 2008-09 are provisional, final data are expected to be published on 28 April 2010. (2) The 'Total number of clients receiving services' is the number of clients receiving one or more services at some point during the year, excluding double counting. (3) This is the total number of clients receiving community based services during the year, excluding double counting. (4) A client may have received more than one type of community based service during the year and thus there may be some double counting across service categories.  Source: RAP form P1 and P2f 
		
	
	There has been no estimate made that providing adult social care in Cambridgeshire would cost £103 a week. The impact assessment which accompanies the Personal Care at Home Bill sets out the methodology used to estimate the additional costs of providing free personal care at home nationally to those in the highest need. The figure was arrived at using information contained in annex B of the impact assessment-which has already been placed in the Library-as follows:
	1. Average number of hours of personal care per week provided for those in highest need = 6.54.
	2. Estimated cost of that care per hour, based on 2011-12 prices = £15.75
	3. 6.54 x £15.75 = £103 per week.

Social Services: Finance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in each local authority area  (a) have been assessed for a personal social care budget,  (b) are in receipt of payment from a personal social care budget,  (c) have declined to use a personal social care budget and  (d) are awaiting assessment for a personal social care budget.

Phil Hope: holding answer 30 March 2010
	The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects data on the number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services commissioned or provided by councils with adult social service responsibilities (CASSRs) via a personal budget as at 31 March 2009.
	Information on the numbers of people assessed for, awaiting assessment for, or declining a personal (social care) budget is not collected centrally.
	The table provides provisional information on the number of clients planned to receive services provided or commissioned by CASSRs via a personal budget as at 31 March 2009. Final data for 2008-09 are expected to be published on 28 April 2010.
	
		
			  The number of clients (aged 18 and over) planned to receive services via a personal budget as at 31 March 2009( 1)  by CASSR-As at 31 March 2009 
			  Rounded 
			   Clients (aged 18 and over) receiving personal budgets( 2) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 35 
			 Barnet 25 
			 Barnsley 475 
			 Bath And Somerset Unitary Authority (UA) 145 
			 Bedfordshire 0 
			 Bexley 0 
			 Birmingham (3)- 
			 Blackburn with Darwen UA 0 
			 Blackpool UA 0 
			 Bolton (3)- 
			 Bournemouth UA (4)- 
			 Bracknell Forest UA 0 
			 Bradford (3)- 
			 Brent 165 
			 Brighton and Hove UA 30 
			 Bristol UA (3)- 
			 Bromley 0 
			 Buckinghamshire 0 
			 Bury 0 
			 Calderdale (3)- 
			 Cambridgeshire 55 
			 Camden 0 
			 Cheshire 20 
			 City of London 0 
			 Cornwall 0 
			 Coventry 300 
			 Croydon (4)- 
			 Cumbria (3)- 
			 Darlington UA 0 
			 Derby UA 0 
			 Derbyshire (3)- 
			 Devon 935 
			 Doncaster 140 
			 Dorset 105 
			 Dudley 0 
			 Durham 20 
			 Ealing (3)- 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA 0 
			 East Sussex 0 
			 Enfield 0 
			 Essex 485 
			 Gateshead 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 
			 Greenwich (3)- 
			 Hackney 5 
			 Halton UA 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Hampshire 1,290 
			 Haringey 0 
			 Harrow 135 
			 Hartlepool UA 0 
			 Havering 0 
			 Herefordshire UA 65 
			 Hertfordshire 2,150 
			 Hillingdon 0 
			 Hounslow 0 
			 Isle of Wight UA 15 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 
			 Islington 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 55 
			 Kent 0 
			 Kingston Upon Hull UA 0 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 25 
			 Kirklees 370 
			 Knowsley 5 
			 Lambeth 0 
			 Lancashire 90 
			 Leeds (3)- 
			 Leicester UA 120 
			 Leicestershire 0 
			 Lewisham 0 
			 Lincolnshire 205 
			 Liverpool (3)- 
			 Luton UA (3)- 
			 Manchester (3)- 
			 Medway Towns UA 0 
			 Merton 0 
			 Middlesbrough UA 20 
			 Milton Keynes UA 0 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne (3)- 
			 Newham 150 
			 Norfolk 265 
			 North East Lincolnshire UA 0 
			 North Lincolnshire UA 0 
			 North Somerset UA 5 
			 North Tyneside (4)- 
			 North Yorkshire 0 
			 Northamptonshire 75 
			 Northumberland (4)- 
			 Nottingham UA 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 265 
			 Oldham 2,080 
			 Oxfordshire 10 
			 Peterborough UA 10 
			 Plymouth UA 0 
			 Poole UA 0 
			 Portsmouth UA 10 
			 Reading UA (3)- 
			 Redbridge 310 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA (3)- 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 550 
			 Rochdale (3)- 
			 Rotherham 0 
			 Rutland UA 580 
			 Salford 0 
			 Sandwell 10 
			 Sefton 0 
			 Sheffield 25 
			 Shropshire 0 
			 Slough UA 0 
			 Solihull 0 
			 Somerset 20 
			 South Gloucestershire UA 0 
			 South Tyneside (3)- 
			 Southampton UA 5 
			 Southend-on-Sea UA (4)- 
			 Southwark 0 
			 St. Helens 420 
			 Staffordshire 30 
			 Stockport 0 
			 Stockton-On-Tees UA (3)- 
			 Stoke-On-Trent UA (4)- 
			 Suffolk 235 
			 Sunderland (3)- 
			 Surrey (3)- 
			 Sutton 0 
			 Swindon UA 0 
			 Tameside 0 
			 Telford and The Wrekin UA 0 
			 Thurrock UA 0 
			 Torbay UA (4)- 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 
			 Trafford 0 
			 Wakefield 0 
			 Walsall 0 
			 Waltham Forest 0 
			 Wandsworth 0 
			 Warrington UA 0 
			 Warwickshire 80 
			 West Berkshire UA 30 
			 West Sussex 910 
			 Westminster 40 
			 Wigan 35 
			 Wiltshire 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA 0 
			 Wirral (3)- 
			 Wokingham UA 30 
			 Wolverhampton 0 
			 Worcestershire 10 
			 York UA 75 
			 (1) Data for 2008-09 are provisional, final data are expected to be published on 28 April 2010. (2) Two personal budgets are currently being rolled out and councils are at varying stages of roll out, therefore there is a large variation in figures at CASSR level. (3) Missing data items. (4) Data less than six has been suppressed. 
		
	
	Figures within the table include clients in receipt of direct payments as part of a personal budget, but do not include carers in receipt of direct payments or with a personal budget.
	An England total for the figures is not provided as data was not provided by all CASSRs. These data are provisional, and final data, including an England total with calculated estimations for those councils that have not provided data, will be published on 28 April 2010.

Vaccination

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish guidance on the vaccination of women and girls who do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the national programme; and what estimate he has made of the number of women and girls to whom that guidance will apply.

Gillian Merron: The aim of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme is the prevention of cervical cancer. HPV is passed through sexual contact which means that the vaccine is most effective if given before the start of sexual activity. The HPV vaccination programme is based on advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation which considered a number of factors, including cost-effectiveness. Girls aged 12 to 13 years in school year 8 are routinely offered the vaccine and girls up to the age of 18 are being offered the vaccine in a time-limited catch up programme. General practitioners can only prescribe the HPV vaccine outside the specified cohorts in exceptional clinical circumstances.
	The Immunisation website provides information about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine to girls that are 18 or over and therefore too old to be part of the national vaccination programme. The website also urges them to attend cervical screening when they are invited from the age of 25.
	The website address is:
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV/Having_the_ vaccination/Im_over_18_and_would_like_to_have_the_ HPV_vaccination._Can_I_get_it_done_by_my_GP

Viral Diseases

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who are infected with the xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus.

Ann Keen: We have made no estimate of the number of people infected with xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

CAFCASS

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the time taken by staff of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to prepare for an Ofsted inspection.

Dawn Primarolo: The resources used in preparation for, and facilitation of, an Ofsted inspection were estimated as being equivalent to some 4,000 hours of staff time, comprising a combination of front-line, managerial and support staff. This estimate was made during 2009 as part of the work on an issues analysis carried out by PA Consulting for DCSF and relates to a single CAFCASS service area.

Children In Care: Missing Persons

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children went missing from care in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information has been placed in the Libraries.

Children: Abuse

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure that recent reforms to child protection systems are  (a) implemented and  (b) resourced in full in Nottinghamshire.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's children and learners teams in regional Government offices support and challenge local areas to improve all outcomes for children including child protection and wider safeguarding performance. Since the publication in 2009 of Lord Laming's report The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report we have reviewed the role of those teams in relation to safeguarding and have also recruited a new cadre of specialist safeguarding advisers. These will be in place from April 2010.
	Expenditure on children's social care, which includes child protection, has increased nationwide from £2.22 billion in 1997-98 to £5.73 billion in 2008-09 in cash. This is a real terms increase of over 90 per cent., equating to an average real terms increase of 6.1 per cent. per annum. Nottinghamshire has benefited from this extra investment.
	The Secretary of State announced on 17 March the publication of The Government's Response to Lord Laming: One Year On an update on progress made thus far on implementing the Government's Action Plan in response to Lord Laming's report. It includes a commitment of an investment of more than £200 million in 2010-11 to support the social work reform programme as well as a new Local Social Work Improvement Fund of £23 million in 2010-11.

Children: Human Trafficking

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken to increase provision of accommodation for child victims of trafficking.

Dawn Primarolo: Effective matching of a child to the right carer to meet their needs is a key factor in achieving stable and secure placements for all looked after children, including unaccompanied children from abroad who may have been trafficked. Local authorities will be responsible for identifying the most suitable placement for the children they look after and each authority will have arrangements in place to secure a sufficient number of good quality placements.
	The Department supports a number of initiatives designed to increase the supply of good quality placements for children in care, including children who may be victims of trafficking. For example, we are currently revising the National Minimum Standards for children's homes and fostering services to improve the focus on outcomes for children, so that all are given personalised support in line with their needs and wishes. We are also working with the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to develop and implement foster care training, support and development standards and improve professional devolvement for children's homes staff.
	These initiatives are designed to increase the number of suitably skilled foster carers and residential care staff at local level with the right skills to support all looked after children, including any child who may be a victim of trafficking.

Children: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding from the Home Access Programme has been allocated; how many families have received assistance from the scheme; and what the maximum limit is on expenditure by each family on  (a) a laptop and  (b) connectivity.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 January 2010
	We expect the total expenditure on the Home Access programme to be in the region of £300 million, with around £240 million of this released in the current spending period (to March 2011) for the pilot and specialist activities and the initial stage (key stages 2 and 3) of the national programme. 270,000 households are due to benefit from the current phase of funding, with over 30,000 already benefitting to date. Customers will be able to get a full package grant worth up to £528, or up to £400 for a device and support only or up to £180 for connectivity only.

Children: Internet

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to minimise the risks to children arising from their use of the internet.

Dawn Primarolo: Prof. Tanya Byron's report, Safer Children in a Digital World was published in March 2008 and its recommendations on child internet safety were accepted in full by the Government. Subsequently, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) was launched in September 2008. Chaired by DCSF and Home Office ministers, the council unites over 160 organisations from across industry, the third sector, law enforcement and the devolved administrations to deliver the recommendations of the report.
	UKCCIS published its first strategy on 9 December 2009, the first of its kind in the world, which laid out the steps that will be taken to help keep children safe online. These include: a £2 million public awareness campaign, launched in February this year, to help parents keep their children safe online; a range of guidance for internet companies, as a further step towards effective self regulation for the industry; and the planned introduction of e-safety to the National Curriculum for Primary Schools in England from September 2010. The UKCCIS strategy can be found at:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/UKCCIS/
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families asked Prof. Tanya Byron to report on the progress made on improving children's digital safety following her original review in 2008. Prof. Byron's findings are due to reported shortly.

Children: Social Services

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the standard of services for vulnerable children in Calderdale; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure the protection of children.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 3 March 2010
	Ofsted published a report of an inspection of safeguarding and looked after children's services on 26 February which judged Calderdale metropolitan borough council's safeguarding services to be inadequate. After meeting with representatives of the council I have decided that the council should be issued with an improvement notice; that an external chair should be appointed to the Improvement Board established by the council; and, to offer some additional support to ensure that these services improve quickly and sustainably.

Children: Social Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions each Government Office of the Regions agreed to extend a deadline for the publication of a serious case review in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 March 2010
	Government offices do not have a role in granting extensions for the publication of SCRs. However, paragraph 8.15 of the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) (as amended), which has now been superseded, said that
	there should be a discussion with the Government Office for the region to agree a timescale for completion of SCRs
	The revised Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) is clear that, where it emerges that a SCR cannot be completed within the six-month time scale, the LSCB is responsible for revising its timetable and immediately consulting with the relevant Government office. Where a LSCB decides an extension is necessary, it should provide the Government office with a revised project plan and an update on progress, which includes action already taken and an explanation for the extension. The role of the Government office includes providing advice, support and challenge to LSCBs.
	The following table gives details of SCRs that were in progress at the time where one or more extensions were granted between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009. The SCRs in the table were not necessarily commissioned within the same period.
	
		
			  Number of serious case reviews (SCRs) for which one or more deadline extensions were granted between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 
			  Region  Number 
			 East 19 
			 East Midlands 6 
			 London 14 
			 North East 9 
			 North West 36 
			 South East 23 
			 South West 12 
			 West Midlands 14 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 35

Children: Social Services

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average number of pages was in a  (a) report on and  (b) summary of a serious case review in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The figures requested are not recorded centrally.
	The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) sets out the requirements for SCR overview reports and executive summaries. Their length will vary according to the different features and levels of complexity of individual cases. Working Together does, however, include a template for overview reports and for executive summaries. The latter was added to the guidance in March 2010 to help ensure that each executive summary provides a full, thorough account of the SCR and includes the actions to be taken.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children Schools and Families have erected two smoking shelters in the last five years at a cost of £7,146.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does operate a subsidised gym facility at its Sanctuary Buildings headquarters. The subsidy to the managing contractor amounts to £62,500 per annum which is offset by the annual aggregate of membership charges which is £57,516. So far the total cost to the Department from the opening of the gym to the present time is £20,609.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has three voltage optimisers in its London HQ building which cover all incoming supplies.

Departmental Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

Diana Johnson: The internal food catering contract is predicated on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PFSPI) that supports the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming in Food-Facing the Future. In addition, the supplier is encouraged to meet Food Assurance Standards through accredited bodies such as Red Tractor, Marine Stewardship Council and the RSPCA Freedom Food Schemes.

Departmental Higher Civil Servants

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his Department.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 29 March 2010
	Grade 2 as a description of staff level is no longer in general use. Senior civil servants in similar sized roles are now referred to as being in Pay Band 3 and usually have the job title of Director General. The Department has four full time equivalents at this level.

Departmental Information Officers

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) communications and  (b) press officers were in post in his Department on the latest date for which information is available.

Diana Johnson: The Department employs 26 press officers.
	The Department's human resources systems holds information on individuals by their generalist civil service grade and therefore it is not possible to identify everybody engaged in communications work in the department, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many designs for its  (a) internal website and  (b) intranet his Department and its predecessor have commissioned since 2005; and what the cost was of each such design;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1293W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign.

Diana Johnson: The Department's main website homepage
	www.dcsf.gov.uk
	and standard web page template have undergone four redesigns since 2005, as a result of changes to the Department's name and brand. The dates and costs of the redesigns, excluding VAT, are outlined in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 April 2007 6,300 
			 July 2007 2,370 
			 September 2008 0 
			 June 2009 7,390 
		
	
	The cost of the September 2008 redesign was met from internal resource. The Department's intranet has had one redesign since 2005, and the total cost was £116,525.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were.

Diana Johnson: It is not possible to provide a comprehensive answer without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose of each such event was.

Diana Johnson: The requested information cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what public information helplines his Department runs; and what contracts have been awarded by his Department for the running of them.

Diana Johnson: The Department holds records centrally of six policy-specific helplines which it sponsors. These and the associated costs are outlined in the following table. The Department also jointly runs the Frank helpline but does not fund it.
	A full survey of helplines and contracts would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Helpline  Cost (£) 
			 School Performance Tables contact centre 17,124.00 
			 Sexwise 800,414.00 
			 Childcare pilot services helpline 550,575.00 
			 Childcare Helpline 129,224.00 
			 Sure Start helpline 65,000.00 
			 Extended Services helpline 9,000.00

Departmental Telephone Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) average time taken to answer a call,  (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call,  (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and  (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by the Child Support Agency and its successor body in the latest period for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 6 April 2010:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the (a) average time to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by the Child Support Agency and its successor body in the latest period for which figures are available.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (the Commission) took over responsibility for the Child Support Agency (CSA) on 1 November 2008.
	In the period April 2009 to December 2009, (a) the average time to answer telephone calls was 7 seconds, (b) The average waiting time a client is kept on hold during a call was 9 seconds, (c) 0.25 per cent of calls were not answered from the queue of waiting callers. In addition, 6 per cent did not reach the queue as they were terminated by the client during the automated touchtone routing to the most appropriate queue, (d) The average handling time (from the moment a telephone calf is answered to the end of the call) was 5 minutes and 2 seconds.
	As well as the CSA the Commission provides an information and support service to separated families known as Child Maintenance Options. If you would like details of call handling by this service please let me know.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2010,  Official Report, column 734W, on departmental temporary employment, what the total amount spent on employing temporary staff was in each of the last three years.

Diana Johnson: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. The Department has used three agencies for the provision of its temporary staff (admin and clerical)-Adecco, Reed Employment and Hays Office Support. The contract with Adecco expired on 31 August 2007, when new contracts were established with Reed and Hays.
	Total spend with the agencies:
	2007/08-£1.7 million
	2008/09-£3.3 million
	April 2009 to December 2010-£2.0 million
	For a small number of specialist temporary staff and interim managers the Department has used other agencies but information on this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Electronic Warfare

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects on the critical infrastructure of his Department of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused  (a) deliberately and  (b) through solar activity.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families is able to draw on the Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, and on the advice of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and CESG as part of its Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity planning.
	It would not be in the interests of national security to provide information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse attack.

Families: Government Assistance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many recipients of Family Unit Current Grants there are expected to be in each category in 2010-11.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 February 2010
	We do not recognise the grant as described.

Free School Meals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white boys eligible for free school meals finished compulsory schooling in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2008.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 9 March 2010
	 The available information is shown in the table. This is based on pupils who were aged 15 as at 31 August prior to the academic year reported and who turned 16 in the academic year reported i.e. those in the final year of compulsory schooling.
	
		
			  State funded secondary( 1)( ,)(  2)  and special schools( 3) : Number and proportion of white British boys aged 15 known to be eligible for free school meals( 4, 5, 6) .( ) As at January 2003 and 2008-England 
			   White British boys aged 15 
			   All pupils( 4, 5)  Number known to be eligible for free school meals( 4, 5, 6)  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals( 7) 
			 2003 232,540 26,680 11.5 
			 2008 247,720 25,100 10.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Includes pupils who are sole and dual main registrations. (5) Boys aged 15 as at 31 August the previous year. (6) Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons eg through preference or through non-attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. (7) The number of white British boys aged 15 known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a percentage of the total number of white British boys aged 15.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Freud Communications

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009,  Official Report, column 1068W, on Freud Communications: public relations, for what reasons the Year of Music was not undertaken in-house by departmental staff; and on what dates Ministers in his Department have met Matthew Freud in the last 12 months.

Diana Johnson: Tune In-Year of Music was conceived as a branded campaign aimed at making a significant and high-profile communications impact and intended to involve well-known music professionals, to interest and engage young people in music.
	The challenge to unite the music sector under a common brand, with the aim of maximising the reach and impact of existing and future music opportunities for young people, as well as developing and implementing the Tune In programme of activity, and securing effective media coverage at national and local level, required a specialist integrated communications agency, as outlined in the campaign brief. Freud Communications were successful in a competitive pitch process run by the Department.
	Neither Ministers nor officials in the Department have met with Matthew Freud in the last 12 months.

GCE A-level

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils  (a) eligible and  (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved three A grades at A-level in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 19 January 2010
	Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility were not collected in 1997.
	In 2008, 160 (3.5 per cent.) pupils eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. The percentage is of all pupils eligible for free schools meals entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008.
	This compares with 14,431 (10.5 per cent.) pupils not eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. The percentage is of all pupils not eligible for free schools meals entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008.
	The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.

GCE A-Level: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals achieved  (a) one or more A to G grades,  (b) three or more A to C grades and  (c) three or more A grades at A-level in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which records are available.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 12 January 2010
	 Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1980, therefore we have provided 2003.
	Figures for 2003 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Pupils eligible for FSM achieving 
			   Number  Percentage 
			  (a) One or more A to E grades 4,610 93.4 
			  (b) Three or more A to C grades 845 17.1 
			  (c) Three or more A grades 94 1.9 
		
	
	Figures for 2008 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Pupils eligible for FSM achieving 
			   Number  Percentage 
			  (a) One or more A to E grades 4,516 97.5 
			  (b) Three or more A to C grades 1,370 29.6 
			  (c) Three or more A grades 160 3.5 
		
	
	Percentages indicated are of all students eligible for free school meals who were entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008.
	The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.

GCE A-Levels: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white  (a) boys and  (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved three A grades at A-level in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 11 January 2010
	Pupil level data on ethnicity and eligibility for free school meals were not collected as far back as 1980.
	In 2008, 38 (4.2 per cent.) white British boys and 29 (2.6 per cent.) white British girls eligible for free school meals achieved three or more A grades at A-level. Percentages indicated are of white British students eligible for free school meals of the appropriate gender who were entered for at least one GCE/Applied GCE A level/Double Award in 2008.
	The figures relate to 16-18 year olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools there were at which over  (a) 30,  (b) 50 and  (c) 70 per cent. of pupils achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The following table gives the requested time series.
	
		
			  Number of schools at which the indicated percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieve five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and maths GCSEs 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 30 per cent. or more 2,843 2,979 2,991 3,130 3,242 
			 50 per cent. or more 1,637 1,756 1,760 1,846 1,912 
			 70 per cent. or more 805 842 776 780 795 
		
	
	Only schools with greater than 10 pupils at the end of key stage 4 have been counted. Academies and city technology colleges have been included.
	Figures are cumulative in nature. If a school is featured in the 70 per cent. or more row then it will also be in the 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. rows.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in receipt of free school meals achieved seven GCSEs, including  (a) physics,  (b) biology,  (c) chemistry,  (d) mathematics,  (e) English,  (f) English literature and  (g) history in (i) 1997, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009.

Diana Johnson: The requested figures have been presented in the following table. However, achievement data matched to pupil characteristics (including free school meals) are not available for 1997.
	
		
			   2003  2008  2009 
			  Number and percentage of pupils( 1)  in maintained schools eligible for free school meals achieving seven o r  more GCSEs( 2)  at grade A*-G or the equivalent, including a GCSE in:  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Physics 1,012 1.2 2,053 2.7 2,932 3.9 
			 Biology 1,207 1.5 2,558 3.4 3,376 4.5 
			 Chemistry 1,112 1.4 2,104 2.8 2,963 4.0 
			 Mathematics 51,155 63.0 54,154 72.4 56,584 76.1 
			 English 52,077 64.2 54,282 72.6 56,818 76.4 
			 English Literature 47,129 58.1 42,321 56.6 41,263 55.5 
			 History 13,565 16.7 12,143 16.2 12,459 16.8 
			 (1) In 2003 figures are based on pupils aged 15-years-old whereas in 2008 and 2009 they are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2 )In 2003 figures include GNVQs as GCSE equivalents. In 2008 and 2009, figures include additional equivalent qualifications approved for pre-16 use.

GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils  (a) eligible and  (b) not eligible for free school meals did not achieve A* to C at GCSE in both English and mathematics in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 21 January 2010
	Pupil level data relating to free school meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1997. The information requested is presented for 2003 (the earliest available year) and 2009 in the following table and is for maintained schools only.
	
		
			   Number of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics  Proportion of pupils not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage) 
			  2003   
			 Eligible for FSM 67,195 82.8 
			 Not eligible for FSM 266,217 53.9 
			  2009   
			 Eligible for FSM 54,190 72.9 
			 Not eligible for FSM 227,963 45.2 
			  Note: Figures for 2003 are based on pupils aged 15 and for 2009 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4.  Source: National Pupil Database

GCSE

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children obtained five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics in schools where  (a) fewer than 10,  (b) more than 20 and  (c) more than 50 per cent. of pupils were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested in presented in the following table and covers maintained mainstream schools:
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils at end of key stage 4 achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics 
			  Percentage 
			  FSM group (based on pupils of all ages in school)  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Schools with fewer than 10 FSM pupils 55 57 58 60 62 
			 Schools with 20 or more FSM pupils 26 29 32 34 38 
			 Schools with 50 or more FSM pupils 24 27 31 34 37 
			  Notes:  1. Figures for 2009 are revised. All other years are final. 2. Pupils present in the 50 per cent. FSM data will also be present in the 20 per cent. FSM data.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who gained five GCSEs at grades A* to C did so by passing a qualification equivalent to  (a) one,  (b) two and  (c) more than two GCSEs in 2009.

Vernon Coaker: There were 444,302 pupils at the end of key stage 4 who achieved five or more GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*-C in 2009. A number of these pupils achieved less than 5 GCSE passes (full, double awards and short courses) and reached the threshold by including non-GCSE qualifications (referred to as equivalents) in their attainment. Of the pupils including non-GCSE qualifications to reach the threshold:
	22,605 achieved four or 4.5 GCSE qualifications and therefore at least include non-GCSE qualifications up to the size of one full GCSE.
	17,791 achieved between three and four GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications at least equivalent to between one and two full GCSEs.
	39,367 achieved less than three GCSE qualifications and therefore include non-GCSE qualifications equivalent to more than two GCSEs.

GCSE

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students in each London borough achieved five or more grades at A* to C at GCSE or equivalent in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested can be found in the following Statistical First Release (SFR) (table 17):
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000909/index.shtml

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of white  (a) boys and  (b) girls eligible for free school meals did not achieve A* to C at GCSE in both English and mathematics in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 January 2010
	Pupil level data relating to ethnicity and Free School Meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1997. The information requested for 2003 (the earliest year available) and 2009 is presented in the following table and is for maintained schools only.
	
		
			   Number of white pupils eligible for free school meals not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics  Proportion of white pupils eligible for free school meals not achieving A*-C at GCSE in both English and mathematics (percentage) 
			  2003   
			 Boys 24,404 86.9 
			 Girls 23,022 83.8 
			
			  2009   
			 Boys 20,684 80.0 
			 Girls 18,723 75.0 
			  Note: Figures for 2003 are based on pupils age 15 and for 2009 are based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.  Source: National Pupil Database

Gifted Children: Sussex

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in  (a) Lewes constituency and  (b) East Sussex have participated in gifted and talented programmes in each year since 2000.

Diana Johnson: The Department does not collect data about participation in gifted and talented programmes. Through the School Census schools are asked to confirm the number of gifted and talented pupils they have identified. The following tables show the number and percentage of children identified as gifted and talented in the local authority of East Sussex and in the constituency of Lewes in the January census between 2006, when the question was first asked, and 2009.
	2006 records include secondary GT pupil data only. Otherwise, figures include primary(1) and secondary(1, 2 )school data broken down by the number(3) and percentage of gifted and talented pupils.
	(1) All data include middle schools as deemed.
	(2) All data include city technology colleges and academies.
	(3) All data show solely registered pupils only.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and state-funded secondary( 1, 2 ) schools: Number( 3)  and percentage of gifted and talented pupils, as at January each year, in East Sussex local authority 
			   Maintained primary schools  State-funded secondary schools  Primary and secondary schools 
			   Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils  Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils  Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 
			 2009 3,770 10.7 4,154 15.0 7,920 12.6 
			 2008 4,020 11.3 4,190 14.9 8,210 12.9 
			 2007 4,570 12.8 3,750 13.1 8,320 12.9 
			 2006 - - 2,990 10.4 - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1)  and state-funded secondary( 1, 2 ) schools: Number( 3)  and percentage of gifted and talented pupils, as at January each year, in the Lewes constituency 
			   Maintained primary schools  State-funded secondary schools  Primary and secondary schools 
			   Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils  Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils  Number of gifted and talented pupils  Percentage of gifted and talented pupils 
			 2009 580 10.0 840 18.7 1,410 13.8 
			 2008 620 10.6 930 20.7 1,550 15.0 
			 2007 740 12.7 540 11.7 1,280 12.3 
			 2006 - - 630 13.4 - - 
			 (1) All data include middle schools as deemed.  (2) All data include city technology colleges and academies.  (3 )All data show solely registered pupils only.   Note:  Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  School Census. 
		
	
	A data table showing information for all constituencies in England has been placed in the Libraries.

Health Visitors: Children's Centres

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start  (a) centres and  (b) health visitors there are in each London borough; and how many such (i) centres and (ii) health visitors he expects there to be in each London borough in each of the next five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table details how many designated Sure Start children's centres there were in each London borough at the end of February 2010, and how many are planned to open or merge for the rest of 2010.
	
		
			  Local authority  Designated children's centres at end of February 2010  Net expected increase due to planned designations and mergers for rest of 2010 
			 Barking and Dagenham 16 2 
			 Barnet 18 4 
			 Bexley 13 3 
			 Brent 15 5 
			 Bromley 19 3 
			 Camden 17 0 
			 Croydon 26 0 
			 Ealing 22 6 
			 Enfield 24 0 
			 Greenwich 24 1 
			 Hackney 19 1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 15 0 
			 Haringey 17 2 
			 Harrow 13 3 
			 Havering 13 1 
			 Hillingdon 12 6 
			 Hounslow 14 4 
			 Islington 16 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8 0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 11 0 
			 Lambeth 29 -1 
			 Lewisham 17 2 
			 London, City of 1 0 
			 Merton 11 0 
			 Newham 20 0 
			 Redbridge 14 8 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9 3 
			 Southwark 21 0 
			 Sutton 14 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 23 0 
			 Waltham Forest 17 0 
			 Wandsworth 23 1 
			 Westminster, City of 15 0 
		
	
	There are currently no further children's centres planned beyond 2010. Figures for the number of current health visitors working in children's centres in each London borough, and the numbers expected in the next five years, are not collected centrally.

Languages: GCSE

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage Four in current National Challenge schools  (a) took and  (b) achieved a grade A* to C at GCSE in a modern foreign language in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number and percentage of pupils in the 2009 national challenge schools who entered and achieved a GCSE in modern foreign language is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of pupils who entered MFL in national challenge schools  Percentage of pupils who entered MFL in national challenge schools  Number of pupils who achieved GCSE A*-C MFL in national challenge schools  Percentage of pupils who achieved A*-C MFL in national challenge schools 
			 2005 10,818 33.9 4,278 13.4 
			 2006 7,805 23.7 3,526 10.7 
			 2007 6,679 19.0 3,277 9.3 
			 2008 7,280 19.9 3,636 10.0 
			 2009 6,447 17.0 3,227 8.5 
			  Notes: 1. Qualifications included are full GCSEs, GCSE double awards and GCSEs in Applied subjects only. 2. The percentage of pupils achieving is based on all pupils in national challenge schools, not just those entered. 3. A pass rate based on those entered can be calculated by dividing the number of pupils who achieve a grade A* -C by the number of pupils entered for MFL.

Mathematics: GCE A-Level

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white  (a) boys and  (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 11 January 2010
	Pupil level data relating to ethnicity and free school meal eligibility were not collected as far back as 1980.
	In 2008, nine (42.9 per cent.) white British boys and three (50.0 per cent.) white British girls eligible for free school meals achieved an A grade in A-level further mathematics. The percentages indicated are of white British students eligible for free school meals of the appropriate gender who were entered for a GCE A-level in further maths.
	The figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2007) in maintained schools only who were eligible for free school meals when they were academic age 16. The figures do not include the achievement of students in further education sector colleges previously eligible for free school meals.

Multiple Births

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to assist multiple birth families; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: High quality parenting and family support services in children's centres with appropriate outreach can help ensure that all parents-including families with twins and other multiple births-have access to the support they need to give them the best possible start in life. There are now over 3,000 designated children's centres many of which run Twins Groups providing support and activities for parents with twins enabling them to meet and share their experiences. The Schools Admissions Code includes guidance at paragraph 2.25 on siblings and twins, stating:
	'the admissions authorities for primary schools should ensure in their oversubscription criteria that siblings (including twins, triplets or children from other multiple births) can attend the same primary school, as long as they comply with the Education (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 1998'.

Music: Primary Education

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage the teaching of music in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Music is a legal entitlement for all young people aged five-14 in England as it is a statutory subject within the national curriculum.
	In addition the Government have, since 1999, provided funding to local authorities through the Standards Fund Music Grant to support local music provision. Since the Government's pledge in 2001 that over time all primary pupils who wanted to should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, the widening of access to instrumental provision at Key Stage 2 has been a priority call on the Music Grant. Also, since 2006, there has also been an additional element to the grant solely for delivering local instrumental and vocal tuition to children at Key Stage 2. Some local authorities also make their own contribution to local music making.
	Another important element of the Government's £332 million commitment to music education 2008-11 is their support for the national singing programme, 'Sing Up'. The programme, which receives £10 million a year, aims, by March 2011, to enable every primary school-aged child to take part in daily high-quality singing activity, and for all primary schools in England to become 'Singing Schools'.
	Over the current academic year, music is being celebrated through Tune In-Year of Music. The wide range of music related experiences available to children and young people across England will be showcased over the year, and all children-whatever their talent-are being encouraged to get involved in music.

Olympic Games: Canada

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance.

Diana Johnson: Since 1999, the Government have published, on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007/08, the list was extended to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries. Information for 2009/10 will be published as soon as the information is available.
	All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Civil Service Management Code', respectively.

Primary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department had spent on preparations for implementation of the recommendations of the Rose Review of the Primary Curriculum on the latest date for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: From the beginning of the current financial year until the end of February 2010, the Department had spent £158,000 on preparations for implementation of the recommendations of the Rose Review of the primary curriculum.
	In addition to this figure, the Department has allocated £2,014,000 this financial year to the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency for this purpose and a further £250,000 to the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services.

Public Sector

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to share services, functions and back offices with local authorities as part of the Total Place initiative.

Diana Johnson: The Government's report on Total Place will be published alongside Budget 2010.

School Meals

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance schools have been given on the implementation of the Healthy Eating in Schools paper; and how much has been spent on that implementation.

Diana Johnson: In March 2006, Ofsted published its report 'Healthy Eating in Schools', which assessed how schools had responded to guidance on school meals and healthier eating.
	The report made a small number of recommendations relating to: the training of catering staff; lunch time management and the dining environment; school food policies; involvement of pupils and parents and quality monitoring by schools. Those recommendations have all been addressed over the course of the last four years, during which time mandatory standards have been introduced for all maintained primary, secondary and special schools, covering all food served by schools during a school day.
	A number of pieces of guidance have been produced by the School Food Trust, as the Department's key delivery partner, including: A Fresh Look at the School Meal Experience; Guide to the Nutrient-based Standards for School Lunches; Nutritional Analysis Support Package (NASP); Calculating the Nutrient Content of School Lunch Recipes: A Caterer's Guide; and Special Educational Needs Schools guidance.
	There has been significant government investment of over £676 million between 2005 and 2011. This includes funding to help support the cost of a school lunch, to help build or refurbish kitchen and dining facilities, to better support the development of training centres for the school food work force and for improved marketing and communications to increase take up.

Schools: Cadets

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much Government funding school combined cadet forces have received in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not held centrally.
	Funding for any particular MOD Sponsored Cadet Force, such as the Combined Cadet Forces, comes from a wide variety of sources including the single services, the use of subsidised facilities, and non-Government sources such as local donations and fundraising efforts. To determine how much funding has been allocated to specific Cadet Forces would require a manual search of records and incur a disproportionate cost.
	The Government remain committed to the Cadet Organisation whose origins date back 150 years. It is one of the oldest and most successful voluntary youth organisations in the world. Today it numbers 131,000 young people, led by 25,000 adult volunteers, in well over 3,000 sites across the country.

Schools: Email

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much  (a) primary,  (b) secondary,  (c) special and  (d) all schools spent on maintaining email addresses for school staff and pupils in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Schools are funded for technology purposes by the Harnessing Technology Grant. Schools are also free to use money from other sources on technological services and infrastructure. However, data on funding of email addresses specifically are not collected, and schools and local authorities are free to decide locally how to apportion the funding across the various types of technology.

Schools: Racism

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will extend the terms of reference of his Department's review of the provisions which prevent the promotion of racism in schools to include the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Diana Johnson: The Secretary of State announced on 30 September 2009 that he had asked Maurice Smith, the former chief inspector of schools, to look into the issue of racism in maintained schools and report his findings by the end of January 2010. Maurice Smith's report was published on 12 March and a copy placed in the Libraries.
	The Secretary of State has accepted the recommendations in full and has asked Maurice Smith to conduct an additional review looking at the safeguards in place in independent schools. The handling of the review will be a matter for Maurice Smith to determine, although he will be free to gather evidence about the activities of any group or organisation. He has been asked to submit his report to the Secretary of State in September 2010.

Schools: Racism

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of all organisations consulted by  (a) Mr Maurice Smith and  (b) officials of his Department assisting Mr Maurice Smith as part of Mr Smith's review of provisions against the promotion of racism in schools.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 2 February 2010
	The Secretary of State announced on 30 September 2009 that he had asked Maurice Smith, the former chief inspector of schools, to look into the issue of racism in maintained schools and report his findings by the end of January 2010. Maurice Smith's report was published on 12 March. The report includes details of all the organisations that contributed to the review and a copy has been placed in the Libraries.
	A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries when it was published, and it included details of all the organisations that contributed to the review.

Schools: St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department plans to promote St. George's Day in schools in 2010.

Diana Johnson: There are no plans for the Department to promote St. George's day in schools. The citizenship curriculum already contributes towards building and promoting a British identity and shared British values, and it offers opportunities to explore what it is to be British. However, it is a local decision for schools to choose if they wish to celebrate St. George's day or not.

Schools: Vetting

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 695W, on vetting: local education authorities, what the timetable is for the review of requirements for Criminal Records Bureau disclosures.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 23 March 2010,  Official Report, column 29WS.

Social Services: Children

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in custody have previously been in care.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.
	However, Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons (HMIP) and the Youth Justice Board publish an annual survey of children and young people in custody. The survey for 2008-09 involved 1,100 young people detained in 18 establishments across the secure estate. This reported that 24 per cent. of young men and 49 per cent. of the 54 young women in the survey had been looked after at some point in their lives. It is important to understand that that the overall number of children with a care background in custody is small relative to the total number of looked-after children above the age of criminal responsibility.
	This report is available from the HMIP website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/index.htm

Sure Start Programme: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Sure Start  (a) centres and  (b) health visitors there were in each London borough in each year since 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table details how many designated Sure Start children's centres there were in each London borough in each year since 2003.
	Figures for the number of health visitors working in children's centres in each London borough since 2003 were not collected centrally.
	
		
			   Year of designation 
			  Local authority  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 ( 1) 2010 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0 3 6 11 14 16 16 
			 Barnet 0 0 0 2 3 13 14 18 
			 Bexley 0 0 1 4 12 12 13 13 
			 Brent 0 0 1 4 5 11 14 14 
			 Bromley 0 0 0 1 10 15 18 18 
			 Camden 1 7 7 10 15 16 17 17 
			 Croydon 0 1 1 3 12 20 20 26 
			 Ealing 2 2 5 10 18 22 22 22 
			 Enfield 0 0 0 7 11 17 24 24 
			 Greenwich 1 1 1 9 16 23 24 24 
			 Hackney 1 1 1 8 13 19 19 19 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 1 4 5 6 12 14 15 
			 Haringey 0 4 7 10 15 17 17 17 
			 Harrow 0 0 0 3 7 9 13 13 
			 Havering 0 0 0 0 3 10 11 13 
			 Hillingdon 1 1 1 1 5 12 12 12 
			 Hounslow 0 0 2 3 13 14 14 14 
			 Islington 2 8 8 9 11 16 16 16 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 0 4 7 8 8 8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0 0 0 4 7 11 11 
			 Lambeth 1 1 1 12 14 24 28 28 
			 Lewisham 0 1 1 3 8 15 17 17 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Merton 0 0 1 1 7 9 11 11 
			 Newham 0 0 0 5 13 20 20 20 
			 Redbridge 0 0 2 4 6 14 14 14 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 0 0 6 9 9 9 
			 Southwark 2 2 3 9 14 21 21 21 
			 Sutton 0 0 1 1 4 10 14 14 
			 Tower Hamlets 1 1 1 10 14 21 21 23 
			 Waltham Forest 0 1 3 6 12 14 17 17 
			 Wandsworth 0 0 2 3 12 16 23 23 
			 Westminster, City of 0 4 4 5 7 12 12 15 
			 Total 12 36 61 159 315 473 525 543 
			 (1) Figures valid up until end of February

Teachers: Males

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) constituency did not have a male teacher at the latest date for which information is available.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of local authority maintained nursery and primary schools in each local authority and parliamentary constituency that do not have a male teacher in service, in England, January 2009, the latest information available, have been placed in the House Libraries.

Teenage Pregnancy

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for a successor strategy to the teenage pregnancy strategy.

Dawn Primarolo: On 24 February 2010-to coincide with the publication of the latest (2008) under-18 conception data by the Office for National Statistics-the Department and the Department of Health jointly published Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010, which sets out the Government's on-going commitment to reducing England's teenage pregnancy rate. A copy can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/healthandwellbeing/teenagepregnancy

Truancy

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of primary school pupils were persistent absentees in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Information on persistent absentees in primary schools is only available from 2006/07 onwards. Information at local authority level for 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09, and parliamentary constituency level for 2007/08 and 2008/09 has been placed in the Libraries. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.